Patna: Nine women have given vent to their feelings on canvas at "Biharins", a five-day art exhibition that began at the Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir on Wednesday.
Each of the women have put up five artworks each, and the common thread that binds them is how the fairer gender deals with the challenges of the world she faces - from sexual assault to protecting children from negativity to the attack on the environment.
Soma Anand from Madhubani district started painting in the Madhubani style after getting married in 2003. One of her paintings, depicting meditation in the Tantra style of Madhubani art, shows how a pregnant woman battles the negative forces around her to protect her unborn child.
Meenakshi Jha Banerjee, a native of Jhanjharpur in Madhubani, tackles sexual assault and the "curse of being a woman" through two of her works, Kathputli (puppet) and Maukaparast (opportunist). "Contemporary social issues always influence artists," Meenakshi said, adding that Maukaparast shows the trust deficit that has built up thanks to growing incidents of sexual assault on women, often by people they know.
Kathputli shows how myriad strings control women -from how they should dress to who they should choose as life partner.
Patna-based artist Satya Sarth's Marichika (delusion) shows the plight of women who start selling their body in lure of money.
"While I was in Calcutta a woman who was disgusted by the reality behind the rich lifestyle and glamour of an escort shared her experience with me," Satya said.
"I decided to convey the message to the world through paint and brush."
Not all artworks were so loaded. Smita Parashar from West Champaran, an artist who draws in contemporary style, portrayed the Buddha, and women in nature.
"Buddha got enlightenment in a surrounding full of nature like trees and rivers," Smita said. "He himself advocated protection of the environment and was against killing of any living being. I like soft themes because they provide peace from the stressful lives we lead."
Sangita, Binita Sinha, Archana Kumar, Archana Sinha and Anita Kumari are the other artists whose works are displayed in the exhibition.
