Method Kala Ghoda’s show, Bariwali: Lady Who Owns the Land by Debosmita Samanta. This exhibition explores women’s lives in middle-class households, capturing their quiet resilience and connection to the concept of “Bari,” or home, through evocative artworks.
The show captures intimate moments from everyday life, portraying domestic scenes and familial bonds that reflect tradition and ancestry. Rooted in Debosmita’s own experiences, these artworks are inspired by the women in her family and resonate universally with themes of resilience, cultural heritage, and the symbolic “Bari-Home.”
Debosmita explains, “it wasn’t difficult for me to depict women engaging in routine tasks on canvas, as I draw from my own experiences as a woman. Since childhood, my grandmother shared her real-life experiences and spiritual journey instead of telling me fairy tales, which helped me understand the struggles of life. She began teaching me about cooking and household chores at a young age, and I eagerly participated in pooja rituals and other daily activities out of curiosity. Overall, painting these practices on canvas felt like reliving them.”
Alongside these joyful observations, she also witnessed the struggles faced by her family members, particularly her grandmother and mother. “The monsoon season was the hardest for us, as our house would often flood with all kinds of water. Their expressions of helplessness are still etched in my memory, which inspired my painting titled ‘Paths on Water.’ Along the way, as we travel for education or job opportunities, we create homes for ourselves. Although our geographical locations may change, the essence of ‘home’ remains constant. Another constant is the sense of responsibility that comes with it—performing daily rituals, completing domestic chores, and navigating everyday struggles to maintain it.”
“She Lives in a La La Land” draws inspiration from Paul Gauguin’s painting “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” This diptych illustrates the cycle of life and the various stages of a woman’s journey. The landscape, or mindscape, is filled with childhood memories, including the Jhulan festival, an encounter with Bohurupi, the rocking horse from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass,” and a line from a popular Bengali romantic song: “Ei Path Jodi Na Sesh Hoy” (If the road doesn’t end), among others.
Read the full story that first appeared in The New Indian Express dated 22 Dec, 2024 here:
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