“The Lines in our Minds - Exploring integrity in gender and interpersonal relations”

The Problem: Bad things happen to women and despite our best efforts they seem to be continuing. On one hand new laws set lines and yet the system cannot stop those lines from getting crossed. On the other hand culture has created lines, that although meant to prevent bad things happening, end up oppressive. We want to explore these lines, standards and double-standards, internal and external, and the idea of integrity, to view the problem of violence against women from a new angle.

Where do those lines come from, how do they get defined, why do they get crossed? Which lines bring life to gender and interpersonal relationships?

Artists Anni Kumari, Manoj Mohanty, and Uday Singh spent 3 weeks exploring these questions at the Art for Change studios in Dwarka, New Delhi.

Anni Kumari:

Title: ‘Vertical Axis’ (Watercolour on Paper, 18 x 15 inch)

This work reflects the inherent violence of the imposing patriarchic status quo in society. The grotesque urge of material superiority sits on the cushioning organic, symbiotic relationships. Herein, the vertical and the horizontal symbolically stand for the male and the female genders.

Title: ‘Constellation’ (Mixed Media on Paper, 18 x 15 inch)

In this work dotted paths, merging and overlapping form varied contours of undefined spaces akin to the social network of individuals. Like the nervous system in the body, the different units negotiate their way to fulfill the objective of a beautiful and existential organization.

Title: ‘I(eye) to I(eye)’ (Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 36 inches)

Parallel lines creating an analogy of differences in thought processes, yet having a possibility of merging at an undefined point, when placed in a certain perspective. The work talks about how internal lines in our mind gradually translate into physical and psychological divisions. The chairs symbolically, suggesting the need for a two-way dialogue.

Manoj Mohanty

Title: ‘Difference Between’ (Watercolour and Smoke on Paper, 14” x 64”)

Try to solve/erase the wrong line in our mind, about difference between gender. We all are mankind, we have no difference between each other. We all are same if you remove the temporary body/image. The lamps are like people, they have different image and size but their work is the same.

Title: ‘Real Tree’ (Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 30”)

According to our social thinking we give more importance to the male person. But it’s not true, because we all are dependent on each other. I made a unique tree whose leaves are like male and roots like female. The tree does not live without leaves and root.

Uday Singh:

Title: ‘Pure Love’ (Watercolour on Paper, 40 x 30 inches)

Today’s young generation has a psychic or abnormal thought where a female is like an object. Nowadays there are acid attacks on females, and this type of incident evokes me to think ‘What is love?” What is the line between hate and love? Are love and hate within the same boundaries?

Title: ‘Plastic Doll’ (Acrylic on Canvas, 48 x 36 inches)

The present mindset of males in society is that woman is like an object, like a doll, only a play thing. The peacock represents male in this painting and the doll represents female. In our society male finds himself more powerful, where female is kept in the four walls of home. This work shows the present mindset of males in our society, which is not based on truth.