Through her new series, “Alterbodies,” the figurative artist Sajitha Shankar attempts to move away from the material or rather conventional description of female anatomy and tries to portray women’s body as a source of energy and creativity.
“Alterbodies,” a series of charcoal portraits and archetypal paintings, attempts to discover the alternative possibilities of the body by giving an innovative kind of disorder in the concept and construct of the body. The portraits can be summed up as going beyond the male gaze of a women’s body.
In a way, Sajitha, through her work of art, tries to bring the struggle of women into the forefront. Her works will be on display at Alliance Francaise till June 20.
Shortly after inaugurating the work, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor, said, “The content of the exhibition is quite impressing.”
Describing her works, Mr. Tharoor said they gave a different picture of the female anatomy and the artist, while attempting to move away from the materialistic outlook, connected the body to the natural things found around.
The artist has conducted 28 solo shows in several parts of the country and abroad. Her works find space in many of the prestigious art galleries. She has won several awards, including Charles Wallace Award from the British Council, senior fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India, French Scholarship for Artists and the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Award.
