Shakti: Women as Power in Indian Art

Smriti Dixit (b. 1971) completed her B.F.A. from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1994. She has held nine solo exhibitions of her works, including those at the M.P. Kala Parishad (Bhopal, 1992), Apparao Gallery (Mumbai, 1999 & 2002), Art Musings (Mumbai, 2004), “Stitching Together” (Aicon Gallery, Palo Alto-USA, 2006) and “Exile from Symmetry” (Art Musings, Mumbai, 2007). In addition, she has also been a part of many group shows in India and abroad, such as a show by IFACS (Delhi, 1992), one with Dhoomimal Art Gallery (New Delhi, 1994), Bharat Bhavan Biennale (Bhopal, 1996), Vadehra Gallery (Delhi, 1996), Directions-The Art Gallery (London, 1997), and Cymroza Art Gallery (Mumbai, 1997). Other shows include “Tribute to Picasso” (The Guild, Mumbai, 2002); “Solitude” (Visual Art Gallery, Delhi, 2003); “Exhibition of Paintings” (Art Musings, Mumbai, 2004); “Abstract Visions” (Gallery Plate and Mueller, Germany, 2005); Confluence 2006”; (Gallery Arts India, USA, 2006); “Roop Adhyatma” (Bodhi Art Gallery, Delhi & Singapore, 2006); Tao Art Gallery (Mumbai, 2007); Miami Art Fair (USA, 2007), Singapore Art Fair (2008) and a show with the Aicon Gallery (USA, 2008). Smriti Dixit received the Raza Foundation Award in 2003. She lives and works in Mumbai.

Seema Kohli's works reveal a claiming of feminine subjectivities, an altered concept of feminine sexuality. Her works bring into focus a woman's physical attributes, her intellect, thought, dreams and realities. The domain of sacred feminine geography with an effulgence of energy emanates from the paintings, where myth, memory and imagination have become the handmaiden of her own artistic oeuvre. Within the genres of sexuality and desire, one can't ignore the parallel journeys of discovery that she has made. Being a student of philosophy, she has inhaled and experienced myriad notions of existence, and has lived emotional and psychological reality She has had 20 solo shows and has been a part of numerous national and international shows. She has participated in prestigious art fairs like Art Basel2009, ARCO Spain 2010,Shanghai Art Fair2011, ArtStage Singapore 2012.She received further acclaim for her creativity at the Florence Biennale, 2009 where she received a Gold Award for her video Swayamsiddha-Myth, Mind and Movement ("Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea, Ciia di Firenze, 7th Edizione 2009.

Brinda Miller studied Textile Design at Sir J.J. School of Art in 1979 with a First Class standing first in order of merit in Maharashtra. She also studied Drawing and Painting at the Parsons School of Design, New York in 1989. Brinda has been part of several group shows and has participated and organized several workshops and art camps in India as well as internationally. Brinda has been with the Kala Ghoda Association almost since its inception since 2000 as Hon. Executive Committee member and is involved in the beautification of this now famous art district of Mumbai, which hosts the only major multicultural festival in India. She is Hon. Festival Director of the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival and has been instrumental in bringing this festival to its present popularity. She is also Art Adviser to several NGOs and other Art Organizations such as Artists' Centre (of which she has been Hon. Chairperson for the last 3 years)and AVID, a public programming platform by Essar group. She is also on the Board of The Swiss Annual Award for Sir J.J School of Arts among many other juries. Brinda lives and works in Mumbai and is married to Architect Alfaz Miller. She is Director, ABM Architects Pvt Ltd., Mumbai.

Gauri Sharma Tripathi has trained in the classical tradition of Kathak, under the guidance of her Guru and mother, Padma Sharma. Under her company, Amara Nritya Kala Hansa and ANKH Dance UK, she continues to bring events like Dancing under the skies, Kathak Stanzas, and Kathak Collective. The repertory of ANKH continues to bridge the teaching and choreographic journeys between the traditions and the new. Gauri wrote the three-year degree course on Kathak for London Contemporary Dance School, she was also part of the ISTD South Asian dance founding team, faculty and examiner. Presently a visiting faculty at Navdhara India Dance Theatre and The Danceworx, Mumbai. Her choreographic highlights include Polaroid Feet, Sacred Monsters, Ronin and Gnosis for Akram Khan. She has developed a vision to forge a new generation of performers who see themselves as dancers, creators, entrepreneurs. Gauri has choreographed numerous productions for Akademi, including Coming of Age, Escapade, Waterscapes, Initium, Sapnay, Maya, and Sufi Zen. She has also choreographed the productions Mahabharat and Wah Wah Girls for Sadler’s Wells. Known for grounding her performance in the traditions of Kathak while giving it a contemporary viewpoint, she has toured her own solo pieces including Circa, Waqt, Ishmir, Timelapse, Vyuha, and has collaborated with Shlomo, a beatboxer to create the first Kathak and Beatboxing choir titled Urban Vani in 2006. Gauri has choreographed Bollywood Trip in collaboration with Theatre Republique Denmark for the Olympic season. She has curated The Alchemy Festival for the last nine years and is associated with The Women of the World festival. She has brought a strong South Asian presence in the UK arts scene and is also a choreographer for the Jagriti Yatra, a unique train journey in its 12th year in India. Gauri alongside her mother, Padma Sharma and daughter, Tarini has initiated a three-generation Kathak performance, which sees an unusual blend of the old and new called “Taa, The Beginning.” Her newest choreographic piece, “Bodyline,” which has toured the UK, and her solo piece, “Antahkarna,” looks at Kathak dance in its vivid and varied forms. Gauri has developed a vision to forge a new generation of performers who see themselves as dancers, creators, entrepreneurs. For her dance is a way of life and it reflects the artistic journey. Dance is her mantra.

Mr. Ramprasad Akkisetti, is a Founder Managing Director of Christopher Charles Benninger Architects (CCBA). He has been in the creative space for the past 2 decades, leading the country’s premier architectural firm. He is an alumnus of AFMC, having academic backgrounds in medicine, with master’s in psychology & anthropology, Ram has authored books, been a publisher of one of the best seller architectural book, “Letters to a young architect” in addition to having written about architecture and published photographs in more than 100 journals and magazines in India and abroad. As an independent curator he runs an exclusive art gallery called India House Art Gallery, in Pune. He has toured around the world and lectured on Art, Architecture and Life style at several forums.