Eesha Chordia

Le Cerf

My body of work has moved through several different ideas, but they all relate to the theme of womanhood. I have tried to explore this theme in a few different ways – by looking at culture, a poem about equality written in Hindi framed across my self portrait, by looking at family and fashion, as well as exploring different cultures and women of all ages.

My works have incorporated sculptural and textural elements and I’ve used a number of processes to adapt the medium to my purpose, such as the use of traditional Indian fabrics which enable me to embrace my cultural heritage. I began IB Visual Art as a painter, and this has been the basis for the majority of my work. My works have a bright and playful palette. I use photographic references and usually have a photo shoot before starting a piece so I have the image to base the paintings on.

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IB ART EXHIBITION | 2020 - 2021

Most of my pieces revolve around the powerful women in my life, telling different life stories and struggles; women from different cultures and eras are represented, embracing their strengths. I was inspired by Shirin Neshat, particularly her artwork “Unveiling”. My work essentially declares the female presence in a male dominated culture. In my paintings and photographs, the female gaze becomes a powerful instrument for communication, aimed to challenge oppression while exposing stereotypical viewpoints on femininity. My work aims to reveal the masquerade or set of poses adopted by women which have for so long conformed to societal expectations.

In looking at my exhibition pieces I want the viewers to follow the flow of Hindi text splattered across the walls and artworks, again portraying the stories of strong women through the lens of motherhood, equality and history. Each giving a message of women's struggles, however, displaying their inner strength.

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