Voices of Shakti

Voices of Shakti; Pain Struggle Courage

Voices of Shakti; the Ongoing Struggle exhibition is the result of a series of individual and collective discussions and interactions that developed over a period of five months between South Asian women from Apna Ghar (Our House) Inc. a domestic violence organization in Chicago and artist Indira Freitas Johnson.

Marking the 11th anniversary of the founding of Apna Ghar, Voices of Shakti: the Ongoing Struggle was hosted by Depaul University- Lincoln Park at the John T. Richardson Library in 2005.

The exhibit focuses attention on the issue of domestic violence and tests the boundaries of old value and belief systems, especially those that provide legitimacy for violence against women. In addition it provided a forum for women to speak out and question elements of South Asian and US traditions and myths that dominate society in general and women’s lives in particular.

Woman’s worth, alienation, patriarchy, society’s response to leaving one’s husband, self-determination, freedom and aspects of shame are some of the issues addressed in the exhibit. The act of “talking back”, of analyzing the systems that had oppressed them, gave participating women renewed strength. As the issues coalesced into visual interpretations they developed into the nine works that make up the Voices of Shakti; the Ongoing Struggle installation.

Woman's Worth

Mixed media: marriage advertisements, nails, rice, dal (lentils) leaves, bangles, and marriage jewelry.

"Simple life time relationship sought with educated, slim, beautiful, charming, fair, family -orientated, professional girl," says one of the numerous marriage advertisements found in the local South Asian papers. What is the worth of a woman and how is it measured.

Shame/Sharam

Hair, hajjab (scarf), words of abuse.

At one time, in practically every culture, hair was a sign of female beauty. This is still true in many parts of the world. In some traditions a woman found guilty of adultery is shamed by publicly shaving her head.

Social Outcast

Cast iron, Xerox paper.

In many South Asian cultures, a woman’s place is defined in relation to the male members of her family-father, brother, husband, son. When a woman leaves her husband, she is frequently treated by society as an aberration, a social oucast.

Rite of Visarjana

Cast brass, earth.

Visjarna is the third and closing phase of ritual Hindu worship. Leaving one’s family to start a new life requires shedding beliefs and practices that have been ingrained since childhood. Only then can there be regeneration.