Saga of Power Play in Art : Sumati Gangopadhyay

It’s a global reality, which Kavita has so superbly through artistic expression presented in her magnificent prints. Her own Ganjifa card is a photo etching relief print created on Somerset paper titled ‘Rezia’ which talks about queen Rezia Sultan and represents feminine power.

As I walked in to Artist Kavita Shah’s ‘Chhaap’ studio I was her prints on the white walls which initially impressed me. Over the years Kavita Shah’s has evolved into a multi dimensional artist, eminent print maker, teacher and international curator. She has been working on the core concept of ‘Power’ and interestingly she has selected the three ancient games of ‘Ganjifa’ ‘Saap Sidi’ and Shatrang or Chess to explore power dynamics. This innovative approach has allowed her to open an entire world of artistic expressions in various prints.


Kavita has developed a very important critical distance and a certain kind of philosophical detachment while visualizing the intricate aspects of ‘Power’. Moreover the ancient games serve as superbly ironic and witty symbols for artistic expression for this creative quest. Talking about her solo show in Sweden at Falun in 2015 she says “I was overwhelmed by the response to my work. Besides, I was very happy, surprised to see that people there, were so enthusiastic about prints and print making. They not only valued prints but also bought and sold, treasured them and were very sensitive in their response. It was really a very fulfilling experience she explained. When I asked her about her experience while working with the famous American print maker Robert Blackburn in New York. She smiled and said “He was lovely person great artist extremely kind and amazingly energetic at the age of eighty. He gave me confidence, I will always cherish those 3 weeks at his studio, and I learnt a great deal from him. I am sad that he is no more.” Kavita’s recent works are a series of cyanotype prints which often carry human images juxtaposed with symbolic design motifs. In one particular print Kavita has shown a sleeping figure which represents a vanquished victim trapped, in a dark space.

The idea of power as a trap, Chakra (circle) web or the rise and fall of power are all symbolically conveyed with artistic imagery. Other symbols are drawn from traditional design motifs taken from Indian mehendi design patterns,