Almost every evening Soumya VN comes across a group of men near her home at Mangattukadavu, whiling away their time, gossiping and gawking at passers-by. That was the inspiration for her acrylic work, ‘Gossips’, on display at the College of Fine Arts’ Degree Show 2023.
“I find that gossip is a term unreasonably associated with women and wanted to break that notion,” says the young artist, who has evocatively captured the details in their attire, body language, expression and setting. Another painting captures a group of women conversing. “Their conversations are often about their families, price hike, society etc. My reference was photographs I had clicked of these roadside vendors outside the Connemara market near our college, selling various produce,” says Soumya.
