Shakuntala Kulkarni's Charcoal Studies of Armoured Female Bodies at Chemould Prescott Road

Shakuntala Kulkarni's exhibition 'Quieter Than Silence (Compilation of Short Stories)' at Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai, running from 9 March to 6 May, presents charcoal drawings on khadi paper created during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The works depict ageing women, armoured figures, and grieving mothers, exploring themes of violence, protection, and resistance. Kulkarni, born in 1950, rediscovered handmade khadi paper and charcoal pencils in her Mumbai studio during confinement. Her drawings evolved from self-reflexive studies of ageing bodies to playful, clothed figures inspired by designers like Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto. The series 'Swaha' (2020–22) features women in black dresses holding headdresses, while 'Stuck in the shadow' (2021) shows figures in dynamic poses influenced by a figure skater. 'Lullaby' (2019–20) comprises eight Pietà-like compositions responding to news of rape and murder in India. The exhibition also includes 'Fallen Warrior' (2019–21) and references Kulkarni's 2012 show 'Of Bodies, Armour and Cages', where she used cane to create sculptural armours. The charcoal forms in 'Stuck in the shadow' stand as sentries, embodying a tension between containment and action.