An Art Work A Day

I do not think we can not solve the problems in the world due to lack of knowledge, but we seem all to be at least partly blinded when it comes to seeing the other side in conflicts. This is very much a problem these days in the Middle East.

Even worse those that fight seem blind to all the suffering of civilians as long as they are civilians from the other side. I grieve for the wounds on both sides.

As I said in the last post, life can be particularly hard if you are a woman. If you do not have much value in yourself, then your function will only be in your connections; who your father or husband is or from the children you bear. Not producing the sons expected or losing the husband or a child then leaves only religion as something to seek for help or comfort.

Recently I have studied the situation for women in India. These days there are lots of demonstrations going on to try to do something about how especialle vulnerable women are treated. These include; poor, single, dadit (low cast/castless), divorced or widowed women. I have today chosen to focus on the widows.

Religious texts are used to give alibi to treating widows horrible. Even though the burning of widows has ended, in many areas and situations they are still considered only a financial burden. They are shunned because they are imagined to be bringers of bad luck. In contrast to Western tradition''s use of black for mourning, Indian widows wear white saries.

In interviews, they speak of becoming invisible, someone whom the society not wants to be seen, nearly a ghost because they are not supposed by tradition to have a life after the husbands death. Many end up as beggars. Their situation has inspired today's painting.

 

Pink Bird Jumping Rope watercolour on paper 20x30cm
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