Womenscape: Contemporary Expressions on Being a Woman

The Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation presented a two-day workshop for women art students at Kanakakunnu Palace in Trivandrum last week. The title of the workshop was "Womenscape: Contemporary Expressions on Being a Woman," and an exhibition of the artwork was held at the Museum Auditorium from March 23-25. Acrylic paint was the medium. Media students, primarily female, covered the workshop with written stories and video.

I was invited by organizers Latha Kurien Rajeev and Dr. Mini Nair to host an interactive session with the students, which was an honor. I took great pleasure in the experience, and enjoyed being among the participants, who asked excellent, challenging questions. I was impressed with the deep engagement I witnessed, and it was a delight to see the paintings in progress. I had already encountered one of the students in the ceramics studio during production of Rajan Krishnan’s oRe piece.

Here are a few photos from the second day of the workshop. I regret that I did not obtain all of the names of the people pictured. Jyothi M.V. is shown in the first slide with her painting; Greeshma Gopalan from Raja Ravivarma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikkara is shown second; and fellow student Remya R.S. is shown third, with a painting of a boat on the sea – note that the wind is catching the sail against the direction of travel. The women were responding to the theme of being a woman artist today.

Beauty of Water Website