The Taragaon Cultural Center in Nepal is pleased to announce the opening of Feminist Futures: Art, Activism, and South Asian Womanhood, a transformative exhibition curated by the art historian Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala. Opening on January 25, 2025, this exhibition showcases the powerful voices of ten South Asian artists including Anita Dube, Anoli Perera, Ashmina Ranjit, Bidhata KC, Mithu Sen, Naiza Khan, Pushpamala N, Sheba Chhachhi , Tayeba Begum Lipi, and Uma Bista, who critically engage with gendered histories, social inequities encountered by women in the region.

Feminist Futures interrogates systemic violence, gender inequality, and cultural taboos, while also celebrating the resilience, autonomy, and solidarity of women in a region where patriarchy and colonial histories have shaped lived realities. Each artist’s work stands as a response to these deeply entrenched issues, offering insights into the ways art can catalyze social transformation and resistance, therefore serves as a critical space for reflection and dialogue, exploring the intersections of art, politics, and resistance within the context of South Asian womanhood.

In a cultural context where women’s experiences are often sidelined or stigmatized, Feminist Futures urges viewers to re-evaluate their understanding of power, freedom, and gender. It underscores the resilience and creativity of South Asian women as they navigate societal constraints, reclaim autonomy, and contribute to a growing wave of feminist activism across the region. This exhibition is not only an homage to the strength of South Asian women but a call to action for solidarity, justice, and a radical reimagining of the future.

A symposium Decolonizing the Feminine: Art, Agency, and Gendered Politics in South Asia highlighting the issues and concerns in the exhibition with presentations by the artists will take place on 25rd January at the Hyatt, Nepal.