Jaishri Abichandani and the Quest for Equality
With her paintings, Jaishri Abichandani transforms portraiture into a celebration of beautifully diverse South-East Asian communities. Jasmine Blooms at Night, the title of this particular exhibition, focuses on New York-based activists. Abichandani is an artist whose morals are at the forefront of her works.
This was a key factor in curating BRIC Gallery’s 2019 show The Portrait is Political. Take, for example, the painting of Menaka Guruswamy shrouded in rainbow colors. Guruswamy is an Indian-born lawyer who played a pivotal role in the Supreme Court case that overturned Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. This case effectively de-criminalized same-sex relations, a major win for the country’s LGBTQ+ community.
An Artist’s Activism
Abichandani works mainly in the mediums of paint and sculpture, but she dabbles in mixed media mediums as well. Above all, her art grapples with the themes of queerness and femininity in South-East Asian communities of New York City. The portraits in this series are of queer, trans, or gender-nonconforming South-East Asian New Yorkers. Each of whom are involved in a range of issues throughout their communities. Issues such as ending sexual violence, environmental justice visibility, increasing access to education, and many more.
On her website, Abichandani describes what is at the core of her art, and her being. “Deeply inspired by queer, feminist and international craft art forms, I make my work from the understanding that the personal is political. Every object that I make, every endeavor that I undertake has within its heart a quest for equality and social justice. Regardless of the shape of my efforts, my vision remains centered in Love.”
Extensions of the Self
The title of the series draws its name from the book Cereus Blooms at Night. According to her Instagram page, it is “a book by queer Trinidadian author Shani Mootoo who used magic realism to tackle issues of gender based and homophobic violence.” Abichandani also incorporates specific colors and sculptural elements into her paintings. Elements that relate to each individual sitter such as books, sickles, or even pearls. Similar to the revered king cobra perched about Mallika Dutt’s head, these arty additions give power to each portrait.
In some cases, the sitter requested certain additions, but in most, the artist decorated the canvas as she saw fit. Abichandani’s focus on groups and individuals who have continuously been ignored by society is incredibly inspiring. She is an unwavering champion of queer communities and has dedicated her life’s work to elevating those around her.
Jaishri Abichandani: A Mythological Transformation
While all of the works possess their own power, I was particularly drawn to the artist’s self-portrait. Specifically, it is a self-portrait in which the artist realizes her likeness in the image of the mythological Medusa. Following Indian cultural traditions, she bears a golden nose ring and a blue bindi. With these details, Abichandani transforms Ovid’s monster, and herself, into a cultural celebration of her home country.
It is clear that Jaishri Abichandani is a powerhouse in the art world. Although whimsical, these powerful portraits tell a story of strength and triumph. Her focus on uplifting heroic stories of South-East Asian LGBTQ+ activists is both an artistic and personal endeavor. Consequently, the artist’s portraits show the world that she and her community are forces to be reckoned with.
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Written by Abigail B. Coté