When artists explored identity, ecology & feminism at this exhibit

A crowd of art enthusiasts gathered at an art space in Koregaon Park recently to witness an art exhibition. What they got, however, was a much deeper exploration of identity, ecology, and feminism. Held at the Vida Heydari Contemporary (VHC) gallery, He/Hem, a collective showcase featuring six contemporary artists, challenged traditional artistic norms by utilising embroidery on unconventional surfaces with these themes.

A new perspective on art
Aparajita Jain Mahajan, a multimedia artist, used embroidery to explore themes of interruption and continuity, tangible and intangible. The artist is highly inspired by nature. She said, “I used a lot of mark-making and stitches, on handmade paper to express emotions. I enjoy working in different mediums to express a more complex narrative." Her work also resonates with the themes of preservation and reformation explored by Kanan Koteshwar, whose art focuses on reviving what has lost significance, “I use objects that are considered waste to create art. My work finds poetic irony in reviving what has lost significance,” says Kanan, who used thread as a main medium with botanical prints in the exhibition.

Artist Mayuri Chari's pieces challenge gender norms and celebrate the resilience of women, while Debasree Das's embroidery addresses environmental concerns. Their work highlighted the interconnectedness of gender and ecological issues. Also showcasing their work at the exhibit were Varanasi-based Anshu Singh, who added to the exhibition's exploration of identity and tradition through her embroideries on paper, and multidisciplinary artist Monali Meher, whose work explored themes of time, memory, and transformation through site-specific installations or performative elements.