A feminist artist passes away; elsewhere, a woman artist of colour championing mental health rises

A SUMMARY OF THE MOST EXCITING ART NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

While we focus on Indian art, we can’t obviously function in a vacuum. It’s a small world and everything is connected, especially on the web. So, let’s train our spotlight across the world map to see what’s going on — from art trends to socio-political issues to everything that affects the great aesthetic global consciousness. Or, let’s just travel the world and have some fun!

Mary Beth Edelson dies at 88

Mary Beth Edelson, an artist who used her work to raise awareness for the feminist movement and empower women, has died at 88. The David Lewis gallery in New York, which represents her, confirmed her death. Since the 1970s, Edelson has made photographs, sculptures, and collaborative projects that were intended as a retort to centuries of women’s exploitation and subjugation. In her art, women attained goddess-like status, and networks of female artists were formed. Edelson would continue to appropriate famed Old Master paintings, recasting them by collaging women artists and thinkers in place of the male figures and again creating a border with images of even more women. ART News condoles the loss.

Sravya Attaluri: Artist of colours talks on mental health

Born in Hyderabad, India, third culture child Sravya Attaluri struggled to fit in as she grew up across foreign countries. Today the 25-year-old artist and woman of colour has a formidable social media following, uses feminist artworks to advocate for mental health and body positivity, and proactively draws brown skin to connect with people who look like her. One of her campaigns about normalising men’s mental health has gone viral, and is now available in the form of a clothing line which was launched on April 23. Attaluri founded a platform called Draw For Mental Health which aims to empower artists to break the taboo around mental health illnesses. The Independent elaborates.

Art’s most glam couples right now

The smart set is venturing out in all its glory to enjoy galleries and art fairs once more as the world awakens from its Covid-induced slumber. As a result, here’s a list of the art world power couples you’re sure to spot at the ritziest events, from Caspar Jopling and Ellie Goulding to Theo Niarchos and Camille Rowe. Princess Eugenie —and her dashing husband Jack Brooksbank— are regular fixtures on Mayfair’s art scene; and director of the elite Gladstone Gallery in New York City —which totes high-profile artists like British sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor— Cooke Maroney is married to Jennifer Lawrence. Tatler tells you more.

Goan village becomes an artists’ haven

Goa’s most noted contemporary artists including Pradeep Naik, Shilpa Mayenkar Naik, Kalidas Mhamal, Kedar Dhondu, and Bhisaji Gadekar, hail are connected to the little village of Mandrem, a quietly scenic place always well known for its skilled masons. The artists have several plans to organise exhibitions and art camps, not just in Mandrem but in other Goan villages as well. Most of them have eschewed the usual gallery route, with their work finding an audience primarily through their own efforts. The Hindu has further details.