Becoming One: Voices of South Asian Women

Think about history, when people couldn’t speak freely, they painted walls, sang songs, or told stories that carried the truth. Art has always carried the voice of resistance.

Art has never been “just art.” 

Why? 

Because art speaks in a language everyone can understand. It has the power to question, to ask why things are the way they are & to show that another world is possible.

Around the world, artists have stood against wars, racism, gender inequality & injustice not just through slogans, but also by creating art that stays with people long after words are forgotten. It makes people stop and think, which often sparks the change.

So when we say art is resistance, we mean it’s more than a creative work. It’s a protest. It’s a rebellion. It’s a way to refuse silence and open doors for conversations that society often avoids.

Read more about the project here

What happens when two platforms share a vision? 

It’s not about competing, but about coming together. Artlune and Artha Art Gallery both have been committed to empowering and supporting South Asian artists, working in their own ways. Their paths have always moved towards the same goal of amplifying the presence of South Asian art on the global stage.

And now, we are collaborating, taking a step closer to that mission, along with the support from IESA Arts and Culture.

We are working on a project that aims to bring South-Asian women diasporic artists together. It will amplify the voices of these artists, sparking dialogue and reshaping how we see identity and womanhood. Through art and conversation, it will challenge stereotypes, explore belonging, and celebrate resilience.

"Becoming one will amplify South Asian women's voices to reclaim their narratives, and challenges-imposed identities and assert their spaces in public spaces."

Why Becoming One?

The problems ‘Becoming One’ is addressing:

1. 68% of South Asian women feel pressured to conform to gender roles while also facing bias in society.

2. 73% of South Asian women in the West fear being stereotyped or objectified by cultural tropes.

3. Women of colour make up less than 4% of exhibitions in major galleries worldwide.

4. Their stories are often unheard, misrepresented, or erased in mainstream narratives.

South Asian women face pressure, bias, and underrepresentation in both society and the art world. This project gives their voices the space they deserve. 

We all grow up with cultural expectations on how we should act, what we should say, and even what we should want. For women, these expectations often leave little space to express themselves. The truth is, identity and womanhood are not fixed but complex, layered, and deeply personal.

How does it solve the Problem?

‘Becoming One’ is not an ordinary exhibition; it’s a meeting point where South Asian women artists reclaim their narratives and share them with the world. It creates space for their stories to travel beyond borders, connecting personal voices with global conversations.

Through their work, these artists challenge silence and stereotypes. Art becomes their way of resisting the roles society tries to impose on women. By creating, they reclaim their voices and decide how their stories are told. For them, art is more than expression. It is an agency that shapes narratives, breaks norms, and opens doors for others to do the same.

Featuring Artists

At the same time, Becoming One bridges local realities with global dialogues. It connects artists, audiences, and communities across cultures, ensuring that the voices of South Asian women are heard, understood, and carried forward. 

In this way, the project builds empathy, reshapes narratives, and moves us closer to a more equal art community.

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Artlune is more than a gallery; it's a movement to showcase the voices of emerging and mid-career artists from South Asia.

For more information, contact us at admin@artlune.com or call +91 9899187125 (India), +44 743 693 3096 (UK)