Power Of The Human Body And Its Many Expressions

Bazaar India speaks with four artists whose works are inspired by the power of the human body and its many expressions.

- Humra Afroz Khan

Seldom has the purpose of art been simply to adorn walls. Female artists, in particular, have used the power of paint to speak up for human rights, striving for change with each brushstroke... Artists have, for centuries, used their art to redefine ideas and unravel the truth. And, by way of that, art has been fundamental in ushering in revolutions. One such concept that art has played a vital role in is redefining the ‘beauty’ of the human body. Bazaar India presents four artists who portray the female form not just to celebrate its incredible, inherent power, but to also ask important questions, tell poignant stories, and help pivot the discourse towards more empathy, acceptance, and inclusivity...

SEEMA KOHLI

“To me, the body is home to our soul. Just like we change our clothes, our outer garb constantly changes, through different spatial and temporal dimensions. I don’t find anything to be formless, even though forms, sometimes, merge or remain unalienated from each other. My mind doesn’t see the nirakar [formless], it seeks the akaar [shape/form]. And my work pursues the celebration of life...which is a prerogative of the feminine. The body, therefore, is reincarnated on my canvas.

My childhood was filled with influences of the mystics—I grew up hearing their stories, and my thoughts were unknowingly being shaped by them. They’ve had a profound impact on my art, too. The mystics’ undying belief of unification of the body with the five elements, and the supreme consciousness residing in everyone equally, resonates with me.

My practice arises from a deep desire for dialogue and communication. This results in reverence for the feminine—a form that leads to creation itself.