NAARITVA by Sima Patel to make a stop at Chitrakala Parishath

Sima Patel, a contemporary artist from Ahmedabad, will be presenting her solo exhibition NAARITVA at Chitrakala Parishath this week. The exhibition will showcase a striking collection of over 40 artworks, exploring the many facets of the female identity — resilient, nurturing, bold and graceful.

Sima says her painting process starts with observation — a child on a train or her teenage daughter’s silence, before they become inspiration. “I internalise these feelings, write them down, and translate them onto canvas. If it doesn’t move me, I paint over it. My canvas must speak not just with colour, but with soul.”

Sima says she chooses her medium of painting based on the expression she wishes to capture.

Each painting in the NAARITVA series captures the layered experiences of women from their individuality to their struggles, and triumphs. Her art celebrates the ‘one woman army’ — mother, teacher, provider, and more, all rolled into one. “She plays countless roles, often all at once. That requires not just physical strength but emotional and spiritual vigour as well,” says the artist. 

Artist Sima Patel
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement 

Sima believes that divine understanding, patience, and energy are imbued in women, especially mothers, and that out of their pain comes something far more powerful. “Being feminine is often seen as a delicate state of being, but my intention is to portray the spirit and silent strength of a woman. Something beyond words.”

All the paintings in the series follow a monochrome colour scheme to capture different facets of the female soul. “I realised real emotion doesn’t need bright colours. The use of black and white taught me restraint, depth, and subtle expression,” says Sima.

Sima’s interest in art was sparked at the age of eight, when her art teacher handed out a plain sheet of paper to the class. However, though she was quite proficient, it remained a hobby with science and later on, homemaking becoming her priorities. Her passion for art was reignited in 2008 after being urged by her husband to pursue her passion, and she pursued a formal art education in Ahmedabad.

Works from artist Sima Patel’s series Naaritva Special Arrangement 
| Photo Credit:
Ruth Dhanaraj

The artworks will be accompanied by brief descriptions and audio guides, that Sima hopes will create a meditative space for onlookers. “NAARITVA is the journey of every woman and I’m bringing it to Bengaluru so visitors can share glimpses of my thoughts and experiences.”

NAARITVA by Sima Patel will be on display at Chitrakala Parishath from June 25 to June 30. Entry free.