S H A K T I
Two of the studio’s artworks, Marai Oli and Mukangal, were presented at Alliance Française of Madras in March 2026. Mukangal, a community driven artwork, evolved through participation, coming alive as each individual placed an eye onto the faces, while Marai Oli unfolded as an immersive installation reflecting the layered, inward, and evolving expressions of womanhood, holding space for both, quiet strength and transformation.
S H A K T I - M A R A I O L I
Materials used: Cotton rope, Fabric scraps, banana stem yarn, cotton thread, LED light strips
Techniques employed: Coiling, crochet, hand stitching
Marai Oli or ‘hidden light’ is something gentle, inward and slowly unfolding, an undercurrent that reflects evolving expressions of womanhood present throughout the installation.
This immersive installation honours feminine strength and force. Rooted in explorations of female energy, it reflects the paradox of softness and power, vulnerability and endurance, birth and transformation, revealing womanhood as both deeply personal and widely shared.
Coiled strips of reclaimed fabric comes together to form a layered presence. These materials carry histories of survival and care, mirroring how lived experiences interlace over time to form quiet strength.
Nestled at the center of this coiled form is a cocoon made from banana stem yarn. It evokes the processes of creation. It nods to the cyclical nature of life, echoing the feminine capacity to nurture, to foster, and to birth not only life but ideas, art, and change. An internal glow traces textures, embodying continuity.
The installation unfolds as a contemplative space where memory, identity, and shared stories converge, inviting reflection.
S H A K T I - M U K A N G A L
Materials used: Fabric scraps that has been collected over time, discarded ornaments, sewing thread, cardboard remnants, plywood
Techniques employed: Patchwork, applique, machine embroidery, fusing
In the tapestry of existence, woman is both the thread and the weaver, binding, creating, enduring, and transforming. Mukangal is a tribute to this timeless force, a collective artwork of 80 unique faces formed from discarded fabric fragments, each carrying a story of persistence, tenacity, and strength.
In everyday life, we encounter countless women shaped by distinct experiences that forge courage and compassion.
The artwork comes alive, when the community crafts the eyes and incorporates them into the piece. At its core, the eyes are not merely features but vessels of memory and truth. They have witnessed tenderness and turmoil, silence and storm. In their gaze lie connection, empathy, and the promise of renewal.
B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S
Attached are videos showcasing the exhibition's creation process, providing a comprehensive journey through the diverse techniques and processes, including waste materials, utilized in crafting these multimedia sculptures.
