Desire Without Apology

We live in a world that constantly reshapes the meaning of a woman’s body depending on where she stands. In one space, the body is treated as a private secret; in another, it becomes a public commodity or a controlled symbol shaped by social rules.

Why does an artist choose to speak for what remains unspoken?

For Sheli Gupta, art is a deeply personal way to bridge the gap between her inner world and the social realities around her. Her practice centres on women’s lived experiences, particularly female desire and sexuality; that are often silenced, simplified, or pushed out of public conversation. She looks closely at the truths hidden beneath everyday norms, allowing the body to speak where words have been denied. Her work echoes a long history of women whose desires were present but never permitted expression.

This virtual art exhibition emerges from Sheli’s reflections on the emotional cost women pay to belong. Too often, a woman’s spontaneous or hidden desires are buried long before she is allowed to name them for herself.

Curated by Shalu Yadav and Yu Li, the exhibition invites you into a quiet yet powerful world shaped through threads. Here, the female body shifts from being an object to be viewed into a subject with agency; one that carries desire, memory and voice. Drawing subtle parallels with the historical figure of the Tawaif, the work asks us to reconsider how women’s bodies, sexuality, and truths have been watched, regulated, and misunderstood.

Join us for the sessions happening during the Exhibition:

• Opening + Private view - 13 February

• Meet the curators (IG live) - 23 February

• Meet the Artist - 1 March

• Curatorial Walkthrough - 10 March

About the Artist

Sheli Gupta is a visual artist from Delhi (India), whose work explores the balance between personal truth and societal expectations. In her early career, she focused on "female subjectivity," examining women's hidden desires, unspoken emotions, and private inner worlds. Over time, her practice has evolved. Instead of just painting the human figure, she now uses experimental materials to express intangible things like memory, vulnerability, and emotion.

Sheli’s work is highly tactile, inviting the viewer to imagine the surface's feel. She builds these surfaces by layering different types of paper and mixed materials to create intricate textures. One of the most important elements in her work is the use of thread. For Sheli, thread is a powerful metaphor for womanhood: it is strong yet delicate, resilient yet vulnerable. By weaving and stitching these threads into her art, she reflects the complexity of the female experience with both intimacy and boldness.

Sheli’s art invites the audience to reflect and empathise. She challenges cultural norms that often treat women as objects and instead creates a space where their strengths and desires are acknowledged. Through her expressive use of mixed media, she builds bridges of understanding based on the shared truths of the human spirit.

Sheli Gupta

Project Significance

Why do we need an exhibition like this?

It brings our attention to a crucial question: Who gets to decide what is allowed for a woman’s body or her desires? 

Throughout history, women’s bodies have been shaped by rules they did not create. The hidden history of the Tawaif reveals a harsh truth: a society that could celebrate a woman’s art while denying her dignity as a human being. This exhibition exposes the cost of that logic, where women are accepted only when they suppress their sexuality and hide their desires.

Through this virtual art exhibition, Sheli Gupta insists on a truth that is still resisted: women have sexual desires, and these desires are natural. Her work gives form to hidden desire, allowing a body that speaks to emerge from silence.

She creates a space where women can be fragile, conflicted, and strong at once. Here, desire is not a problem to fix or a secret to hide, but a natural part of being alive. The body is no longer a passive object; it becomes a subject reclaimed, carrying its own history and voice.