Her Canvas, Her City’ Panel Discussion on Women Artists at Zapurza Museum

PUNE: The India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) collaborated with the Zapurza Museum of Art and Culture and the ARISA Foundation to present Her Canvas, Her City on September 7, 2025, at Zapurza’s 9th Gallery. The panel discussion featured Gayatri Tambe Deshpande, Vaishali Oak, and Shilpa Joglekar, and was moderated by Prafull Botre.

The session was part of the Foundation Project, implemented by IFA under its Archives and Museums program with the Zapurza Museum of Art and Culture. The project was coordinated by Kohinoor Darda, a cognitive neuroscientist, neuro-aesthetician, performing artist, and founder of the ARISA Foundation. The project aims to examine Pune’s artistic legacy through exhibitions, research, and public programs.

Highlights from the discussion

According to Shilpa Joglekar, “artists often work in pockets, but to bring them together and create synergy, we need spaces like this museum.” The discussion highlighted the importance of community in Pune’s art world and situated women’s work within the broader legacy of the city. While Pune has long been celebrated for its contributions to literary arts and theatre, the voices and practices of visual artists have remained underrepresented.

The panel also debated the role of social media in shaping art viewership. Although social media has increased the reach of art, the artists cautioned against its superficiality. Gayatri Tambe Deshpande noted that “social media allows you to put your process out there, but it can also trivialize the artwork. Looking at art requires time, attention, and presence.” Vaishali Oak added that “many viewers today see exhibitions as colorful backdrops for Instagram reels, without really engaging with the work.”

The conversation expanded to accessibility in the arts, underlining the need to take art beyond galleries. Shilpa Joglekar noted that “the white cube can feel alienating. Bringing art into public spaces makes it accessible to everyone, creating a new visual culture.”

The panel concluded with reflections on technology and tradition. The artists agreed that while tools like AI can support artistic processes, they cannot replace the role of the artist. Gayatri Tambe Deshpande said that “AI is just another medium. It can save time and offer possibilities, but art still comes from lived experience and human connection.”

The discussion took place alongside the exhibition Pune’s Artistic Legacy Part 3: Women Artists of Pune, which was on view at the Zapurza Museum of Art and Culture until September 10, 2025. The exhibition featured ceramics, textiles, paintings, illustrations, and more, led by themes of memory, nature, material, and movement, and invited audiences to read the city’s art history through women’s practices.