I have always looked up to Anupam Sud. Her keen observations on the role of women in society – their response to the male gaze, the complex relationships that women have with men, and their portrayal of beauty – are spot on. I have respected her consistent contribution to society by creating art that highlights social issues sensitively.

The painting titled Waking is from 1982. The work portrays a naked woman, attempting to wake an unconscious man who is lying on a bed with his face barely visible. In the background are images that seem to show different aspects of the same woman.

Notice the composition and layering of the figures. The facial expressions of the main figure display grief and unease. Her hand resists touching the body. These are signs of her vulnerability. I believe that the artist uses the unconscious man as a metaphor for society, unaware of its own injustices. Perhaps she expects him to wake from his slumber and become the beacon of change, to be free of all biases, where equality thrives.

To me the work evokes positive feelings as well as those of discomfort, pain, grief, and vulnerability. The first time I saw it was in 2018, when I had just begun working on my own series of female bodies. This particular work made me feel that every woman has her own perception of society and her surroundings.

Over the years, my view of this artwork changed. As a recently married woman, I’ve started a new life with my partner and a new set of parents, having left everything behind. During this process, it often occurred to me that this practice has been thrust only upon women. While the concept of marriage isn’t the issue, patriarchy ensures that women have it tougher. I now read so much more meaning into this painting than I did earlier.

This artwork also made me realise that I’m on the right path as an artist, because art shouldn’t be restricted to simply creating visually attractive paintings. Creating art is a huge responsibility; it’s a way of dealing with one’s emotional baggage. This painting has all these qualities, which makes me relate to it on many levels.

My own works are a commentary on the irony of society. On the one hand it tells us to be comfortable in our own skin and on the other, it imposes unrealistic standards and expectations on us. Women are placed on pedestals of perfection; they are labelled universal givers – all this doesn’t make sense to me. This incredible piece is a beautiful amalgamation of the conscious and unconscious, aptly questioning this dichotomy. Just like her, I too strive to create art that possesses the power of change and focuses on strong contemporary social issues.

Delhi-based artist Natasha Sachdeva’s works capture female bodies in their unvarnished glory. Rolls, folds, layers, spots and brightly painted undergarments are on full display. She is represented by Art Heritage Gallery.

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