Akar Prakar presents ‘Of Spaces of their Own: Women Artists in 20th Century India‘ In celebration of their 20th Anniversary. The exhibition highlights the diverse practices of women artists across India from the early to mid-20th century, tracing their journey through the pre- and post-independence periods. Beginning with the Swadeshi movement, informal educational spaces like antahpur and grihavidyalayas allowed early women artists to emerge within domestic settings, later transitioning into institutional spaces such as Kala-Bhavana, which welcomed female students. Iconic figures like Amrita Sher-Gil are showcased, whose work navigates the East-West aesthetic dilemma and explores the interplay of indigenism and Western modernism.
As art education evolved, more women joined prominent movements, including the Calcutta Group, the Progressive Artists’ Group in Bombay, and the Madras Art Movement. The exhibition also explores how international cultural exchanges, emigree artists, and scholarships broadened women’s artistic practices. Spanning the early 20th century to the 1960s, this exhibition highlights the contributions of Indian women artists while acknowledging gaps in the historical narrative. It aims to bring untold stories to light and foster dialogue between past and future generations of women artists.
Find out more about the show here.