A STRONG WOMAN

A strong woman is sometimes strongly fed up

A strong woman is at times strongly rageful

A strong woman is on occasion deeply sorrowful 

 Beloved Shakti,

teach me in this unbearable now about the cosmic dance of creation / destruction 

we are so much more aware of destruction, so asleep to creation 

Teach us in this now, what we need to know 

 For strong women are strongly prepared to grow. 

Lata Mani - Poetics of Fragility

The opening sequence of The Poetics of Fragility, featuring Angela Davis reciting the words "A Strong Woman," deeply resonated with me as a young woman navigating the realities of present-day India. Walking home from the bus stop and being perceived as a sexual object can leave a strong woman strongly fed up. The intrusion upon one's body can ignite a strong woman’s righteous rage. Hearing the stories of women around me, living in injustice with no hope of resolution, often leaves a strong woman deeply sorrowful.

What inspired me most to create these dioramas were the words, "For strong women are strongly prepared to grow." Despite the ongoing struggle of existing as the secondary, there is immense power in the possibility of growth. Even though our bodies may feel confined within this society, the frustration and determination to strengthen our resolve can never be contained. These dioramas are an expression of that enduring strength and the unyielding potential for transformation.

Strong Women. Watercolour, Paper cut dioramas. Various sizes

Imagined Futures. Wall mural. 7ft x 5 ft.