25/11/2021
“Working Women”. 9 x 12 inches. Watercolor. I know I tend to photograph and draw/paint women, much more than men. That’s because I think women in art are depicted in a specific way, existing to cater to the male gaze and I’d like to change the conversation. This was trying to connect with my roots, which is in a village in the district of Birbhum, West Bengal, India. I grew up watching tribal (Santhal) women carrying firewood and other stuff, and literally, working like formidable hulks throughout the day. Amid golden paddy fields and vast, open fields of greenery, palm trees at the distance, heartwarming sunsets, and on the red earth, these women would keep working for their family. They can’t leave work to invest in their family. Regardless, they would never be depicted as “working women”, no tweets, songs or literature or movie would be talking about them or their narratives of living. This is just a token of appreciation for my roots. This is just remembering my Santhal (সাঁওতাল) friend. This is just me trying to create some meaning from precious memories. This is me, going back to Ahmadpur.
