Shilo Shiv Suleman's Exhibition Spotlights The Resistance Of South Asian Female Artists

Resistance is a catalyst for change and artistic transformation. Often, when artists are pushed up against a wall with nowhere to go, they end up creating the most fearless and incomparable kind of art. The limitation itself becomes a source of inspiration. History has repeatedly shown that women, in particular, have been placed in such compromising positions of oppression — forced either to submit and succumb or to carve out enough space to take a stand and pivot.

The Fearless Foundation for the Arts, founded by acclaimed Bengaluru-based visual artist Shilo Shiv Suleman in 2012 , is built on this very principle. The art collective is a team of women who use art as a form of protest and resistance against patriarchal discourse and gender-based violence, transforming public spaces through beauty and expression. Their work, which includes 49 large-scale public installations created through the collaboration of hundreds of artists across 16 countries, stands as a testament to the idea that resistance can be both beautiful and hopeful.

This month, the collective’s inaugural event ‘Art of Liberation’, an exhibition curated by Shiv Suleiman along with co-host Tara Lal and Curatorial Advisor Myna Mukherjee celebrates both fire as a source of liberation and the artists that fuel it. From October 16 - 21, Travancore Palace in New Delhi will host art works and installations by female artists from all over South Asia. Musical performances and words by homegrown artists like Sruthi Vishwanathan, Delhi Sultanate, Mahi G, and Aamir Aziz will supporting the exhibition.

The featured artists weave the very heart and soul of the hardships and people’s movements they represent. Vicky Shahjehan, an artist and activist from Sri Lanka, uses henna as her medium of expression in a poster that transforms the map of Sri Lanka into a flame — symbolising the 2022 Aragalaya protests against the severe economic hardships faced by the common Sri Lankan citizen, which ultimately led to a major political shift in the country.

Other artworks include pieces by Krisha Joshi from Nepal, whose poster highlights the importance of environmental conservation; Iranian artist Negin Rezai, whose work 'Women, Life, Freedom' challenges gendered roles in society; and Shilo Shiv Suleman herself, whose piece pays tribute to the peaceful protests led by the women of Shaheen Bagh. Together, these artists confront harsh political realities through art.

The exhibition creates a space for artists from regions that have been historically mired in geopolitical turmoil — such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar — highlighting the strength of people who stand in opposition to their governments’ blatant tyranny. Worlds will converge on the floor of the Travancore Palace, as these artworks transform into a fiery language of courage and hope.

'Art of Liberation' is free and open to the public. You can find more information on the exhibition here.

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