Artist Shibani Sehgal On Experimentation, Resistence, & Womanhood

For Shibani Sehgal, art was never a conscious choice. It was a calling that surreptitiously became an inseparable part of her world. From a childhood spent scribbling on walls to winning art competitions in school and college, creativity unfolded as a natural path.

That journey led her to formal training, first as a BFA graduate from the College of Art, New Delhi, and later to an MA in the History of Art from the National Museum Institute, where she was awarded a Gold Medal.

"Art is my core identity and language," said Shibani, in an interview with SheThePeople. Her work, mostly inspired by nature, literature, and memory, is what she describes as a reflection of her selfhood.

Shibani took a break from professional art after the birth of her children. When she returned to the canvas in 2017, the act of making art carried a fresh sense of purpose.

Painting intuitively and without a predetermined plan, Shibani allows forms, lines, and textures to emerge organically on the canvas, much like the spontaneity and flow of nature.

Birds and flowers recur as motifs, symbolising freedom, fragility, and renewal, while layers of metallic pigments introduce luminosity and shifting light.

Art and womanhood

In a society that often attempts to 'tame' women and limit their freedom of expression, Shibani’s paintings of untethered nature are like a reclamation of agency over public space and identity.

"Nature is an extension and completeness of the woman in me," expressed Shibani. The concept of 'prakriti' and 'purush' being complementary is timeless, and I believe in it. It gives me power and faith in my womanhood."

The refusal to stay within prescribed boundaries is, for her, an assertion of individuality. Art, she believes, is not about outperforming or competing, but about manifesting inner truth.

"My art experimentalism emerged when I began cutting up my older works. I created layers, patterns and collages with them, giving birth to refreshed thoughts and manifestations," Shibani shared.

By reworking her older paintings to create new art, Shibani demonstrates a 'rebirth' of her creativity. Her unique art is also an assertion of her individuality in a world that expects women to be predictable.

Technology in the art world

Like every industry, the world of art is rapidly changing with technology. Today, with AI producing art at the click of a button, Shibani sees a clear distinction between human creativity and machine-generated output.

"AI can recreate the already envisaged," she observed, emphasising the role of human intuition in art. "An artist, especially an experimental one, will always have something unborn to give birth to."

For Shibani, technology is a tool, and not a replacement for creativity. It aids in documenting her process and reaching audiences across the globe, expanding the canvas beyond physical boundaries.

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Evolution as an artist

Looking back, Shibani reflects on her journey with a sense of fulfilment. The years away from professional practice, while raising her children, enriched her connection with her creative voice.

When asked what advice she would give her younger self at art school, Shibani is candid. "As a student, I was an introvert who rarely interacted with the great teachers in our college."

"I would like to advise young people not to miss this opportunity," Shibani expressed. "Go ahead and ask the question in your mind, even at the expense of sounding stupid!"