Exhibit 320’s latest exhibition, Unseen Shadows, challenges these notions through the nuanced works of two female artists: Richa Arya and Deena Pindoria. Running from October 5th to November 4th, 2024, this show delves into the themes of gender, identity, and labour, making visible the unseen contributions of women’s lives, often obscured by social and cultural norms.
Richa Arya’s work stands as a bold representation of the everyday resilience of women in rural Haryana. In pieces such as her handmade sculpture (19x23x5 inches), the artist uses raw materials like metal sheets and wood to create a tactile narrative about the silent labour women undertake. These materials, often seen as industrial waste, are transformed into powerful statements about the lives of housewives whose contributions are largely unacknowledged, yet crucial to the social fabric. Arya’s striking piece titled On Duty (12×12 inches) continues this theme by emphasizing the physical and emotional endurance required in domestic spaces. Her use of earthy textures and rugged mediums suggests a deep connection between labour and land, evoking both strength and struggle.
On the other hand, Deena Pindoria’s Purdah Series introduces a softer, yet equally potent exploration of gender and seclusion. Her work, Layers of Seclusion (2024), created using acrylics on handwoven kala cotton and digital print on handwoven kota doria, layers materials to represent the physical and metaphorical barriers imposed on women. The semi-transparent quality of kota doria fabric, in particular, speaks to the duality of purdah—offering protection but also enforcing confinement. Pindoria’s compositions use muted tones and fluid forms to evoke both visibility and erasure, mirroring the complex relationship between identity and societal expectations.
The exhibition, curated by Lekha Poddar, beautifully intertwines these narratives, offering a space where viewers can reflect on how women navigate their worlds—seen and unseen. Whether through the industrial detritus of Arya’s works or the delicate, layered fabrics of Pindoria’s, Unseen Shadows illuminates the resilience and complexity of women’s lived experiences. The curated essays by Priya Chauhan and Shreya Sharma further expand on these themes, inviting audiences into a thoughtful discourse on materiality, identity, and socio-political erasure.
Exhibit 320 has long been a platform for emerging voices, and with Unseen Shadows, the gallery continues its tradition of fostering critical conversations in contemporary art. Both Arya and Pindoria’s works stand as a testament to the strength found in everyday acts of labour and survival, offering a poignant reminder that the shadows we overlook often hold the brightest truths.
Dina Pindoria Artwork – Title- “Layers of seclusion” Medium- 1st layer- acrylics on handwoven kala cotton cloth, 2nd Layer- Digital print on handwoven kota doria Size- 16”x12” Year- 2024
Richa Arya Artwork – on duty, handmade,19x23x5inches.
Richa Arya Artwork – handmade,19x23x5 inches.
