Delhi Women in Shelter Create Art in "What Is Love?" Initiative

An art and healing initiative in Delhi called "What Is Love? A Journey to Find the Self" has provided a platform for 15 women living in a government-run shelter to explore their emotions, memories, and identities. Many of these women have intellectual disabilities and have been abandoned by their families.

What Happened

The five-month project, led by the Society for Child Development, utilized ceramics, textiles, and painting as mediums for expression. Artists Suparna Arora, Shalini Dutt, and Sujata Das guided the participants, allowing the creative process to unfold organically without imposing specific outcomes. The initiative focused on selfhood, beginning with the idea that love starts with self-knowledge and acceptance.

Key Facts

• Fifteen women with intellectual disabilities participated in the "What Is Love?" initiative.
• The project lasted for five months.
• The women used ceramics, textiles, and painting as art forms.
• The Society for Child Development led the initiative.
• Madhumita Puri, founder of the Society for Child Development, conceptualized the project.
• Artists Suparna Arora, Shalini Dutt, and Sujata Das guided the women in ceramics, textiles, and painting, respectively.
• The women reside in a government-run shelter and many have been abandoned by their families.

Background

Madhumita Puri, who has over three decades of experience working in the disability sector, developed the initiative out of a desire to move beyond conventional approaches. She believed that artists, rather than administrators or psychologists, could better guide the women through creative engagement. The project aimed to acknowledge the inner worlds of individuals often perceived solely as recipients of charity, recognizing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions.