Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) is proud to host the first edition of the art exhibition “Women Depicting Women: Her Voice & Her Vision” to capture the diversity and different perceptions, share aspects of women’s lives and their stories, and advocate for a new narrative. The exhibition also aims to build an ecosystem for women artists, address their under-representation and raise their commercial potential.

RBTC was founded as a social change initiative. Its mission is to celebrate the achievements and contributions to nation building by Muslim women in India and help change the stereotype narrative surrounding them, doing so in an integrated way, with collaboration of all faiths. Women Depicting Women comes at a pivotal period when more and more women, including from minority and diverse communities, are taking on agency as professionals in diverse sectors, as also seen in our RBTC honorees from across India.

As a global development practitioner for nearly three decades, working in many countries across the world, I have deeply engaged in a variety of strategies related to social norms change for women and girls, from policy advocacy, legal action, programming to research, communications, social marketing, others. I believe that art offers powerful opportunities to express our common humanity, challenge assumptions, spark conversation, connect diverse people, and promote action for positive change. Our art initiative, building on the overall RBTC mission, recognizes and leverages the potential of engaging critical questions of social change within contemporary art.

Visual arts using powerful imagery and colors, can show us what's happening in society and make us ponder on the issues. Art is people’s collective mind. It is not mere amusement, distraction, or fashionable investment. Art shows the entire spectrum of character, from shallow and pathological ugliness to radiant and mystical beauty. Art can foster appreciation of the diversity of humanity. Art can amplify compassion and sensitivity by sharing deep feelings. Art can demonstrate the intricate interconnectedness of the web of life. Art can portray human struggle and suffering but can also uplift and heal the soul. By doing all these things and more, art can encourage and nurture what is best in us and gives people joy and hope.

‘Women Depicting Women’ introduces women artists whose work focuses on a range of stories and deals with personal and collective issues. The spotlight is on the experiences of over one hundred women artists who engage the viewer through presenting a contemporary viewpoint and commentary on gender, women's work, pain, hope, motherhood, roles, responsibilities, and many other dimensions. The 104 submitting artists are based in Lucknow, the hosting city, as well as in fifteen other cities of Uttar Pradesh, nine states in India and five countries across the world. Art works range across age, time, and place, as well as social, political, cultural contexts to represent the diversity of approaches the artists have taken and in the lives of women depicted.

I see the artwork shifting the focus from a woman’s body to her lived experiences. The eight themes that we have developed reflect this shift. I see the women depicted in the artworks coming from all walks of life, fisherwomen, labor women, chairperson, dancer, ‘nyaka’, princess, warrior, working from home, or lost in domestic work, juggling office work and family. Whatever their story, these women all have something in common with each other- and with every woman who sees the exhibition- they work very hard at whatever they do, whether it is paid or unpaid, recognized or not recognized. Motherhood not surprisingly is a theme in a section of the artworks. Reviewing these, I note that the techniques, framing and titles span across a wide range - mother, amma, ‘utpatti’, nurturing, motherhood, mother love, mother & child and metamorphosis. The variety of art styles of surrealism, conceptualism, abstract, expressionism and figurative add to the creativity. Maternal love takes many forms, but one of the most essential is to provide an experience of attunement, to resonate with the inner world of another.

What makes art such an effective tool in addressing social issues is its ability to focus the community on the societal problems. A cluster of artworks in the collection act as a catalyst and draw attention to critical issues faced in the society by women. In the paintings entitled - Illegitimate, Claiming her Space, Life in Acid, Stop Child Trafficking, Anjaam, Right to Choice, Care for the Girl Child, My Body My Choice My Hijab, Humanly Tormented - the artists share creatively the issues from their accumulated experiences and histories within public and private spaces. Art that may be negative, tormented, may be a diagnostic tool for social ills. The art and artists are expressing their truth and fulfilling the mission of art, even if they disturb, or engender fear or anger in their audience. They use their artwork as a healthy form of demonstration, a template to voice their opinions without violence or confrontation.

If we cannot envision a better world, we cannot create it. It is wonderful to see women’s artworks in the exhibition resonate with hope and dreams to inspire and transform us. Several artworks have used the symbolism of flying or rising or blooming to maintain our creative excitement about life. However, many artworks in the exhibition are of pain and longing. In art's mission to reveal the complete range of human character, part of the artist's job is to tell the truth, to describe the world as we live in, and to reveal the condition of the human soul. If our art projects a sad painful mentality, it is an accurate portrayal of humanity’s darker side. There is demonstration of women supporting each other and female resilience in many of the artworks.

My deep thanks to all the RBTC team members to Farzana Shahab, the curator of this event, organizing artist Sabiha Hasan Sumbul and art critic Sahar Zaman, for excellent teamwork to implement this first Rising Beyond The Ceiling art initiative. As part of our objective to continue to support women artists, particularly those from marginalized communities, an RBTC Art Fund is proposed to be established to provide financial as well as mentorship support to new and younger women artists.

To conclude, I believe art has the potential to advance, deepen, and transform the consciousness of the community. Through “Women Depicting Women”, we call for women’s art to manifest its power to uplift and become an inspiring vision for women of all communities.

Dr. Farah K. Usmani,

Founder, Rising Beyond The Ceiling

Link to Dr. Farah Usmani's video message

Rising Beyond the Ceiling is organising the first art show of its kind where more than 100 women artists will showcase their works. This all-women art show is curated by eminent painter Farzana Shahab who herself is a sensitive contemporary artist, under the leadership of Dr. Farah Usmani, the founder of RBTC. I would like to congratulate Farzana Shahab, Dr. Farah Usmani and their amazing RBTC team for this stupendous effort.

As Leonardo da Vinci said ‘the painter has the Universe in his mind and hands’, I truly felt the power of art to evoke feelings, to challenge the status quo, to move the universe as I went through all the amazing paintings. The creativity of these women is commendable - there is so much potential in each of them.

I am truly humbled to be asked to judge the art work - it is a challenging task but one that also inspires and moves me.

Meera Ali

Meera Ali is a film producer, architect and designer with her own couture label, Kotwara, which she established in 1990 with Muzaffar Ali. Meera has published her debut coffee table book, ‘Dining with the Nawabs’ in 2017. She has designed and produced 25 editions of Jahan e Khusrau World Music Festival across several cities in India, London and Boston and 7 editions of Wajid Ali Shah Festival of Conserving Cultures in Lucknow.

I am honored to be a part of this great initiative, Rising beyond the Ceiling. This community of strong, talented and successful women belonging to different walks of life has created this great platform to promote talent and showcase creativity.

My journey as an artist is one that I embarked upon a couple of decades ago. Throughout my childhood I have been an ardent admirer of Mother Nature & its endless creations. Though after completing dual masters in Information & Technology (MIT) and Business administration (MBA) and almost 10 years of working with different corporate houses, I realized that something was not complete within & I needed to change course for a happier me. This is when I am gravitating towards art completely. Looking back, I realize that even while I was grappling with two different sets of careers, colors, patterns, prints always spoke to me. Thus, with focus, dedication, self-motivation and continuous learning, I started redirecting my passion towards profession and within a few years started my own business.

According to me, this Art Exhibition, based on the theme, “Women Depicting Women - Voice and Vision" in many ways is a testament to one’s life’s journey and aims to showcase diverse paths of life undertaken by other women. The objective is to celebrate womanhood and empower women to project their creative skills. Art knows no boundaries. Keeping this adage in mind and trying to inculcate it in its truest sense in this exhibition, we have put no age barriers for participants and have welcomed women from all over the world to showcase their skills. Each artist is unique and their artwork tends to reflect their uniqueness.

This exhibition focuses on celebrating individuality and oneness of women from all across the globe. We have received overwhelming response & are delighted to have women from different countries coming from different backgrounds, culture, age & profession and it has given us a chance to look at the subject from a different viewpoint. Would like to congratulate all participating artists and wish each one success & happiness.

Love the woman in you and keep the love for art alive forever.

Sabiha Hasan Sumbul

Visual Artist, Lucknow

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

"Women Depicting Women: Voice and Vision" is a contemporary art exhibition being organized by Rising Beyond The Ceiling (RBTC) online globally as well as physically at Kala Srot Gallery at Lucknow, India on 22-23 June 2022. The purpose of the exhibition is to capture the diversity and different perceptions of women’s lives, share their stories, and advocate for a new narrative through visual arts. The exhibition also aims to build an ecosystem for women artists, addressing their under-representation in the world of art and helping raise their commercial potential.

ABOUT RISING BEYOND THE CELING

RBTC was founded as a social change initiative. Its mission is to celebrate the achievements and contributions to nation building by Muslim women in India and help change the stereotype narrative surrounding them, doing so in an integrated way, with collaboration of people of all faiths. “Women Depicting Women” comes at a pivotal period when more and more women, including from minority and diverse communities, are taking on agency as professionals in diverse sectors, as also seen in our list of RBTC honorees from across India on our website. RBTC is a formidable collective of successful and talented Muslim women of India from diverse spheres of life. This includes businesswomen, journalists, lawyers, civil servants, activists, artists, performers, writers, academicians, entrepreneurs, lawmakers and many more.

ART & SOCIAL CHANGE

Rising Beyond The Ceiling recognizes the intersection of art and social change and the potential of engaging critical questions of social change within contemporary art. The exhibition introduces women artists whose work focuses on a range of stories and deals with personal and collective issues. The artworks draws on experiences of the women artists and engages the viewer through presenting a contemporary viewpoint and commentary on gender, women's work, pain, ambition, family, roles, responsibilities, and many other dimensions. It shifts the focus from women's bodies to her lived experiences.

ABOUT ARTISTS AND ARTWORKS

187 artworks were received for the exhibition through online entries from over one hundred women artists. The 104 women artists (attached index) are from 16 cities of Uttar Pradesh, 9 states in India and 5 countries across the world. Half of the entries were shortlisted for inclusion in the RBTC catalogue and invited to participate in the online/physical exhibition. RBTC team has developed eight thematic categories for the artworks selected in the catalogue: Women’s Work, Motherhood, Hope and Dreams, Pain and Solitude, Societal Issues, Women Supporting Women, Journey of Women and Spiritual Reflections.

A cluster of artworks in the collection draws attention to critical issues faced in the society by women. In the paintings entitled - Illegitimate, Claiming her Space, Life in Acid, Stop Child Trafficking, Anjaam, Right to Choice, Care for the Girl Child, Kushk Zubaan Bebak Jigar, Invisible Truth, Gender Equality, My Body My Choice My Hijab, Scars are my Identity, The Voice, Humanly Tormented- the artists share creatively the issues from their accumulated experiences and histories within public and private spaces.

RBTC ART AWARDS

Four RBTC Art Awards will be selected by a Jury comprising:

• Farzana Shahab, Curator

• Sabiha Hasan Sumbul, Organizing Artist

• Farah K. Usmani, Founder Rising Beyond The Ceiling

• Sahar Zaman, Journalist and Art Critic

• Meera Ali, Fashion Designer

The awards, will be given at the event on 22nd June 5 pm at Kala Srot Gallery, Aliganj, Lucknow by chief guest Padmashri Muzaffar Ali Saheb.

Award Categories:

• RBTC Art & Social Change Award: This award seeks to highlight the implications of socially engaged art, that is in dialogue with public discourse. It will honor an artist whose artwork promotes social justice, focusing on issues of women. This award is sponsored by SAFAR Foundation.

• RBTC Begum Hazrat Mahal Creative Award: This award will recognize creativity and originality of the depicted theme and is sponsored by the exhibition curator, Farzana Shahab.

• RBTC Rummana Hussain Pioneer Artist Award: This award will recognize innovation in the artwork. The award is named after late artist Rummana Hussain (1952-1999) who was one of the pioneers of conceptual art in India. It is sponsored by the artist's brother Mr. Wajahat Habibullah.

• RBTC Future Generation Art Award: This award is for an emerging young artist and is sponsored by SHS Works Art Gallery, Sabiha Hasan Sumbul.

RBTC ART FUND

As part of RBTC’s objective to continue to support women artists a RBTC Art Fund is proposed to be established to provide financial as well as mentorship support to new and younger women artists. The seed funding for the RBTC Fund has been provided by SAFAR Foundation. Some RBTC Honorees have also committed support to the Fund.

RBTC TEAM/CONTACT DETAILS

“Women Depicting Women” has been conceptualized by Dr. Farah K. Usmani, Founder, Rising Beyond The Ceiling and curated by Farzana Shahab (Phone +919839731791) and co-organized with visual artist Sabiha Hasan Sumbul (Phone +919198477786). RBTC Uttar Pradesh Coordinator is Sabiha Ahmad (Phone +918009442444), Mohsina Mirza is the RBTC UP Media Coordinator (Phone +919670607437).

LINKS FOR IMAGES/SOCIAL MEDIA

• Website: https://www.inspiringindianmuslimwomen.org/art-exhibition-women-depicting-women

• Facebook RisingBeyondTheCeiling

• Instagram risingbeyondtheceiling

• Twitter rbtc_women

• E-mail risingbeyondtheceiling@gmail.com

QUOTES FOR MEDIA USE

“We continue to promote the submitted artwork by displaying and reviewing a new work periodically on our social media platforms. We have received great feedback about this initiative, and it has helped a number of women to feel more confident in displaying their work to a wider audience and seeking feedback to help improve and grow their skills. I have received so many messages…someone who lost their loved one during the pandemic and is now using art to heal her soul, and another woman who has found new passion and zeal for life…or someone just being able to speak out loud through the words of paint and color and canvas………………………..” Farzana Shahab, Curator, Lucknow.

“In the true spirit of Islam in respecting the significance of womanhood, the RBTC has set an example of harmony and equality by inviting talented women artists of all faiths in their first art show hosted in Lucknow. As someone who has been in journalism and the arts for 20 years, for me this is a headline grabbing show. For two reasons. Firstly, the scale of participation. Secondly, the purpose of goodwill. The show is a treasure trove of stories, experiences, struggles, observations and opinions. To my mind, the show is a unique study on our gender, the only difference being that you don’t get to read this as a written report but to watch it as a visual splendor……….. ” Sahar Zaman, Art Critic, Mumbai

"I believe that art offers powerful opportunities to express our common humanity, challenge assumptions, spark conversation, connect diverse people, and promote action for positive change. “Women Depicting Women” recognizes and leverages the potential of engaging critical questions of social change within contemporary art. I hope the artworks will amplify compassion and sensitivity for the issues and, every person who sees the exhibition, physically or online, will take away appreciation of the diversity of humanity and the intricate interconnectedness of the web of life. Through this initiative we call for women’s art to manifest its power to uplift and become an inspiring vision for women of all communities………” Farah K. Usmani, Founder, Rising Beyond The Ceiling