Artist's statement

Women…First revered, then reviled, and now somewhere in between. The power struggle between the male and female species has been on for centuries… and it completely amazes me that we have yet to find at a balance that works…

The modern Indian woman continues to emerge as a substantial force - an individual capable of accomplishing as much as a man can and more.

My question is, what about nature and the reason men and women are made the way they are?

Do women really have to do everything a man can to prove they are superior or even equal?

I thought the whole idea behind nature was that she made men and women different to create a balance – then why this struggle for dominance of one gender ?

History shows us that women have proved time and again that they are a formidable force, yet they continue to pursue the one thing that they don’t really require - equality with the male species.

This body of work seeks to highlight the formidable power of a woman – especially the modern Indian woman. She has a backdrop of a country developing at a fabulous pace, constantly providing new platforms and opportunities for women (and, of course, men) to be recognized on a world stage.

Perhaps we need to set aside this pursuit of one up-manship for a moment – and focus on the political, social and religious issues that plague our society.

A lot has happened and continues to happen that makes us as Indians far more aware of our rights, especially our right to make the system more accountable. Awareness of the fact that we do not have to accept a corrupt and unaccountable system – albeit in a haphazard and volatile fashion, which, in the long term, is not sustainable - Only a coherent and united strategy will take India forward. The alternative is breaking up into nothingness….

Balance is the key…all else will follow.

About the artist

Sunaina is a contemporary artist of Indian origin, who currently lives and works in Singapore. Born and educated in India, she moved to Tokyo in the late 90’s and has spent the last two decades in various parts of North and South Asia. The cultural and societal influences reflect in her style of work, which is an amalgamation of the various art forms she has studied, formally and informally over the last 20 odd years.
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