“I am my own muse; l am the subject l know best. The subject I want to know better.”
– said Mexican artist Frida Kahlo who is remembered for her self-portraits, pain and
passion, and bold, vibrant colours.

Some of the most beautiful and intriguing subjects in art are women. From Venus to
Mona Lisa, women possess an undeniable presence in art through the ages.
However, in history, when depicted artistically, the feminine was only depicted as
softness, a muse or a deferential pose – embodying sexuality or innocence.

Contemporary art has worked hard to subvert the ideology of the female form and
has moved away from the generalisation of women in art, welcomed the female artist
as a cultural norm, and the shift from gender discrimination has evolved into a
celebration of female artistic achievement. Deepali Sarde’s works are both a
celebration of the ‘Feminine’ and of herself as a woman capable of an individual
narrative and creative expression.

The works in the present collection are Deepali’s signature style of meticulous
portraits made with the base of academic style coupled with the technique of cross-
hatching by scratching the surface with a pointed tool as a stylus. The faces are
deliberately dark or even black, steering away from the ‘fair is beautiful’ adage. The
works involve the viewer on merit of expression and their communication of
unspoken emotions.

While the compositions feature decorative and colourful backgrounds, the focus is
the subject matter. Whether it is the joy of motherhood or the innocence of
childhood, the companionship of a pet or the sensual gaze of a woman, the subject
in all of the paintings in this series showcase the array of emotions that women
Embody.

‘Facets of the Feminine’ de-layers both soft and complex emotions of women via the
brush strokes of Deepali Sarde. Innocence, wonder, hope, divinity, empathy,
sensuality and maternal love, all tug at the heart strings of the viewer making it a
compelling visual and emotional experience. ln society, a woman plays different
roles through her life journey and the show picks on some of these life moments as
inspiration. The collection is an ode to women, their facets and personas – and
presents a visual spectacle for all art lovers.
Sapna Kar