Fair game?
The teasing, taunting and sometimes worse that women have to endure while on the roads is a reality in quite a few cities in our world today. Many are the excuses that are given as if to say that in the saying it makes it alright. That she was dressed inappropriately, that she walked suggestively, she looked too pretty, she shouldn’t be walking alone , that men are hunters etc. etc. Makes my blood boil.
While, like this woman, you might feel like taking a stand, it would make better sense to ignore and move on. I blame cinema and violence for this increase of harassment in our country. Cinema because most of them show that a girl while initially resisting actually enjoys and falls in love with the youth who chose to accost her. And violence, as in the past, if a situation on the road went a bit out of hand you would have passers-by willing to help you. Now they too fear retaliation and violence from these goons.
The thought that ran through my mind while I was painting this was predators. In reality the lady was turning back to reply to her companions who were right behind her. They were taunting / teasing her too but it was as you would with friends and not strangers.
I have a great selection of references to work with from that one afternoon in Ashulia thanks to Anil’s photography skills and generosity. And having been there, seen these people, interacted with some of them has made it interesting to capture them with paint. This is the 4th completed painting in the Ashulia series which is being renamed “On the road to Ashulia”.
18″ X 30″ Mixed Media (acrylic + oil) on stretched canvas.
Filed under: 2008, Acrylic, Anil, Art, Ashulia, Bangladesh, Canvas, Dhaka, Medium, Mixed media, Oil, On the road to Ashulia, Photo Reference, Ujwala, maya, series, stretched canvas | Tagged: Acrylic, anil advani, Ashulia, Mixed media, Oil, On the road to Ashulia, Painting, photo ref
Very nice painting…the colours are so vibrant and contrasts with the flew figures in the background..Just love it
I love it when a painting tells a story. Great painting!
Ujwala, I really love your recent work! this one is absolutely masterful - the composition, color, execution - it’s perfect.
And ‘Waiting’ is mysterious, rich, full of suggestion. You seem to have recently opened some new doors in your art.
BTW, have you (or your parents) received the portrait I sent? I hope so, it’s been a while now.
doudy: thank you
i dont know why your comments keep hitting the spam folder even after they’ve been approved once 
hope i havent lost any others.
Thank you Marta. I find that I enjoy the process more if I have some thoughts in my mind about the subject.
Casey : Thank you. I feel I was a bit hasty about calling Waiting done but I’ll try what i wanted differently in the larger size. I’m enjoying the addition of the figure to my “just faces” repertoire.
The portrait has not arrived as yet but I’m hoping that it will show up soon.
[...] Update : Feb 7, 2008 : You can see the finished piece here. [...]
Hi Ujwala,
just looked at the portraits you did on your other blog, draw the line, I loved them specially the one in ink with a few penlines about Selim Al Deen, you render so much humanity in your portraits.
I love too your painting on this post, colours, contrast, composition and find the detail of her earing very touching, an earing that any woman in any country could be wearing
Hello Ujwala,
thank you for your nice comment on my colour charts!
P.S. Your painting is gorgeous!!!
found your blog on best Indian blog’s list…. and I have read some of your blogs, I want to congratulate you first that you are having an amazing writing ability which makes your blogs very much readable and interesting. One thing which I have noticed again and again in your blogs is that you describe anything with great enthusiasm. keep the good work coming
and yes your paintings are Awesome
Ujwala this painting definitely works! The darkness of her persecutors works in this case very well since it unveils their dark spirits. To soften the edges was enough to make them recede, indeed. That’s an amazing painting about a very rough topic. It’s really thought-provoking.
Benedicte : thank you very much
Claudia : I feel that it is something that i should’ve done at the beginning of last year!! I hope that I can catch up this year
Rohit : glad you have found the posts interesting and thanks for the compliment.
Syliva : thank you
one thing that i would’ve like to do differently is have put less colour and softer edges on the background figures. i have access to a second reference and might have a go at that one a bit differently. thank you too for giving the subject of the post some thought .
THIS is fantastic! I can’t add anything to what others have said — just — wow!
Thank you Linda
Beautiful composition, Ujwala - such a strong image, and very powerful visual commentary.
Beautiful! I love how you made the woman’s clothing colorful. Very beautiful!
Amie : Thank you for the wonderful comment
Aisha : Have to give credit to Anil’s reference for the colours on her saree. thank you
Ujwala, your paintings are wonderful! I’m not much of an artist, so can’t comment there, but really like your thoughtful words. Especially “Fair Game?”. We’ve used all sorts of excuses (psychological, cultural, developmental…
to account for our actions (I’m an Indian male) but none of them hold. We need to change our ways. It’s a tragedy that such discussions are still needed. Anyways, again, wonderful work. Best of luck.
anup : thank you. it’s a bit of a rant but on a subject i feel strongly about