One of the most honored female contemporary artists from Kerala, Sajitha R. Shankar, is researching over womanhood in nature, in everything around us. Her latest series of art works belongs to the theme ‘Alter Bodies’, which is also a continuation of that search.
What was the motivation behind Gowry Arts Institute and what are the activities happening there? I was in Cholamandal Artist Village for 19 years. It was a place started by K.C.S. Panicker. All the artists residing there will sit together and interact. Those interactions contributed many ideas. The life and experiences I gained from that place influenced me a lot. Due to some reasons, I had to leave Cholamandal and I returned to Kerala in 2005. I got the opportunity to travel to countries like Spain, Germany, Scotland and England etc. representing India to attend workshops and to meet many renowned artists. Then once, this idea of creating an arts institute came in my mind. Kamala Das and Chandralekha were my good friends. Both of them had influenced me a lot. All those interactions gave me the idea to start Gowry Arts Institute. I have an ethics. Like Virginia Woolf once said, “A room of one’s own.” It is my personal studio. When I was in Cholamandal, I used to come here with the money I raised by selling my works. The stones used in building Gowry institute were collected from the Kallar River. I was attracted to Kallar while I visited there for ayurveda treatment. We conduct get together functions, camps etc. there. I invite creative people from all the areas. They include writers, photographers, script writers, painters etc. What are the challenges you faced as a woman in this area? Like any other girl, I was also living under restrictions. My native place is in Kottayam. I always found time for reading and writing. I was not allowed to mingle with boys. I participated in literary and art competitions when I was in school. Since I was good in studies, my father wished to see me as an engineer in future. He was totally against my craze in arts and literary works. But my teachers helped me in changing my parents’ attitude. I joined for degree in Trivandrum Fine Arts College. Since there were not many women artists during that time, I was treated well by my classmates and teachers. I got married in 1988, but that was an unhappy one. I was tortured by my husband and most times, I was admitted in hospitals. Art was the only factor that made me not to think about ending my life. Then my daughter Shilpi was born. I got divorced from my husband. Now I live for my art and for my daughter and her family. I had to fight against gender discrimination in all areas to prove my worth. As in any other field, there are issues in this field too. You have travelled to many countries for propagating your art. How has travelling influenced your creativity? Yes, I have travelled a lot. My first experience of going to a foreign country was in 1995when I went to England. I was not confident in my English. It was a talk based on Indian Contemporary artists and Folk artists. In the middle of my presentation, I got stuck because I didn’t get a word. From the audience sitting in the front row, one English man asked me not to worry about anything and he asked me to continue. Then I had been to Germany. Germany gave me many opportunities. My most favorite country is Spain. I went twice. First time I represented South Asia, and second time for conducting my solo exhibition. Spanish people are very active. It is an amazing experience to spend midnight in the Spanish streets. I have been to other countries like Scotland, Japan and France. People in foreign countries consider artists as people who are close to God. They know the value of arts. They believe that artists are more sensible than others. I am more interested in Western Culture and their love for arts. Also the experiences I got from Dharmasala influenced in my works. Can you please explain about your works, themes and also your future plans? I started painting since 1982. I used Communist ideology as expressions of my theme. When I reached Cholamandal, themes for my paintings included day to day incidents, experiences, surroundings etc. More like an autobiographical theme. I used titles like Women and Reality, Women and Nature, Women and Emancipation, Mother Archetypes, Women Archetypes. My most special paintings were done in that theme. They included Akkamahadevi, Karakkal Ammiyar etc. I used my own body sketch in those paintings. After Women Archetypes, I did a Navagraha series, Poem of Love series etc. The concept ‘Kaavu’ had influenced me in my childhood. That influence has been reflected in my Women Archetypes works. I came to know about a Cuban woman artist Ana Mendieta while I was in France. She committed suicide after completing her series of paintings with the theme Mother Archetypes. There were many similarities in both of our archetypes works. My French artist friend advised me to stop painting Mother Archetypes. But I never find it as a serious issue. Later I moved to Delhi. Then I was in search of a Guru to guide me in the theme of spirituality, alter bodies etc. I found a person who has the legacy of Sree Narayana Guru and Swami Vivekanandan. Now I am in that process to explore the genre of Spirituality and Alter bodies. How well your family supports you? I got divorced in 1988. I have a daughter, Shilpi. She got married and she has a daughter. Her name is Sara Dushyanthan. Now I have a partner. He is also in the process of becoming a yogi. We travel together and all my family members support me well. What advice do you have for the beginners in this field. In most of the Fine Arts colleges, the curriculum and syllabus is related to British educational system. We need to create a syllabus of our own. Our way of approaching art is different from foreign countries, especially European’s. There are many people who have immense talents. Art can make a person famous and rich. But more than that, it makes a person a brighter human being. There is nothing to teach in art. Every talented person is a yogi. The Fine Arts College where I learned needs a person who is a creative artist more than a teacher. The critics are not observing the artists properly. The interactions with other artists and attending workshops will give more ideas. Women artists should empower themselves. Never compare your life with the life of a man.
