Amrita Sher-Gil
Untitled (Self-portrait), 1933
Amrita Sher-Gil
In culture, sexuality, and even behavior, Sher-Gil was never one or the other, but everything and whole all at once.
– Rhea Khanna
It’s inadequate to simply say I love Amrita Sher-Gil. That she’s my absolute favorite. An artist I could devour for every meal of every day—uncooked, no salt! Because Sher-Gil doesn’t need to be seasoned or reheated to fit the palette of today. Her timelessness lies in her rawness and brutal honesty; her forthright ability to speak directly to our hearts.
Born in 1913 to a Hungarian mother and Indian father, Sher-Gil grew up well acquainted with the ideas of hybridity. She enjoyed occupying spaces that were undefinable… spaces that were no one else’s but hers. In culture, sexuality, and even behavior, Sher-Gil was never one or the other, but everything and whole all at once. A making of her very own.
via @butisitarthur
Sumair, 1936
Amrita Sher-Gil
Encouraged to pursue her talent in the arts from the young age of 5, Sher-Gil eventually went on to become one of the most significant women artists of the early 20th century. An artist who redefined Indian modernity. An artist who reframed womanhood.
Through her art, Sher-Gil gives us an unadulterated view into the fierce fluidity of her own existence. She lived between multiple worlds—the West and the East, the passionate and the melancholic, the liberated and the critical—and embraced the intimacies every side had to offer.
Her bi-cultural upbringing, coupled with her life in Paris, Hungary, and India, led her to develop a keen understanding of the styles and traditions of each one of her homes. However, spiritually and empathically pulled toward India, Sher-Gil eventually dedicated her art in passionate service to the Indian soul.
As her art reflected this solidifying identity, Sher-Gil completely transformed the depiction of femininity in Indian art and what it meant to be seen as a woman. She validated the lives of Indian women and drew parallels with her own: the loneliness, the despondency, the hope, and the resolve.
With richness of color and depth of perception, Sher-Gil boldly expressed her idea of empowerment. She blended Western and traditional art forms and revolutionized the position Indian art held, giving dignified visibility to her people and her own self.
Although widely known as the “Frida Kahlo of India,” Sher-Gil was no one else but herself. Ferociously modern. Ferociously Indian. A streak of lightning that split open the sky of Indian Modernism letting a thunderous shower of artistic liberation pour down, Amrita Sher-Gil was unquestionably pioneering in both her art and her passion for life.
Unfortunately, Sher-Gil’s life was cut short due to an untimely death at the age of 28. But this tragedy reveals her strength—namely, that her ability to move the winds of identity and culture never laid in the hands of chance or time. It was a power that came solely from the depths of her own heart.
Talented, bold, spirited, and unique, Sher-Gil filled the world with soul. Her own soul. A well from which we all can share.
I do love Amrita Sher-Gil. And from love, there comes so much more…
Sleep, 1932
Amrita Sher-Gil
Group Of Three Girls, 1935
Amrita Sher-Gil
About the Writer:
Started by Rhea Khanna, See Spectacular is an art journal on Instagram that chronicles her dialogues with Modern & Contemporary Art across cultures around the world. With a focus on communities that are typically underrepresented—namely women artists and artists of color—Khanna hopes to highlight their cultural contributions without the intimidation usually attributed to discussing art. With the belief that art can foster peace and understanding, Khanna highlights the lessons she personally learns and the relationship she builds with the world through art.