Women have long inspired artistic endeavours, their grace and complexity becoming focal points in paintings, sculptures, poems, and stories throughout history. And yet, there remains an echo of imbalance, a feeling that contemporary women, especially in urban settings, are overlooked by the art world. Artist Amit Srivastava, through his latest exhibition entitled “Unfettered,” seeks to bridge this representational gap, offering new perspectives on the lives of modern women.
“This theme has resonated with me for a significant period,” reflects Amit Srivastava. Delving into his inspirations, he reveals that the drive behind “Unfettered” stems from a recognition that urban women are underrepresented in art. These women traverse the boundaries of traditional and contemporary roles, forging their paths in the professional world, all the while nurturing their homes with equal dedication. Srivastava, who hails from Delhi, carries a personal connection to his work, drawing on observations of his own mother’s balance as a school teacher and her nuanced journey through life.
The exhibition showcases over thirty canvases, each one a testament to women’s solo moments of peace and introspection. Srivastava’s medium of choice is oil on canvas, with a palpable influence from the Old Masters, where the interplay of light and shade becomes integral to the storytelling of his pieces.
Amit’s journey with art is not without its turns – starting as a childhood curiosity that brushed shoulders with an interest in engineering. Immersed in the academic demands of IIT, art initially took a back seat. It wasn’t until his final year that the passion for art reignited, prompting exploration and learning from local artists.
In pursuit of mastery, visits to the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York ignited a deep appreciation for the Old Masters, kindling a desire to emulate their style. This pursuit led him to find mentors, notably ones who had honed their craft abroad. Under their guidance, Srivastava welcomed the weekends as opportunities for creative growth and skill refinement.
A pivotal moment arrived in 2008 during an intense painting session that spanned nearly eleven hours without a break, an experience that signaled to Amit the undeniable pull of art in his life. This transformative event ultimately led him to enroll at The Ryder Studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, under the tutelage of Anthony Ryder. Here, Srivastava enriched his technique, particularly in Still Life, while also recognizing the value of studying live subjects and delving into the nuance of their composition and design.
By 2013, Srivastava fully transitioned to the life of a professional artist, embracing figurative art and portraiture as his strengths, though Still Life remained a cherished format. The works for “Unfettered” are christened with titles that encapsulate the emotions they evoke. An intriguing example is the piece “Naina,” modeled after a dancer whose expressive eyes captivated Srivastava. This emotion resonated so deeply that it became both the title and the subject’s informal nickname from her grandmother.
The creative process for these artworks spanned a year and a half, culminating in a mixture of media including oil, conte, charcoal, and graphite on paper. “Unfettered: Unleashing the Spirit Within” by Amit Srivastava will grace the Gallery Time and Space until January 28, inviting audiences to witness the diverse, inner worlds of contemporary women.
Participation in Srivastava’s exhibition is not simply observing art; it is engaging in a dialogue about modern femininity, strength, and identity, about those moments when even the most dynamic of women pause and reflect in solitude. “Unfettered” is a celebration of this introspection, an ode to the unwinding journey of today’s woman, all captured through Srivastava’s evocative brushstrokes.
