Anitha N Reddy - INDIA

“I was born and raised in Bangalore, India, in a cultural environment where tradition quietly shapes everyday life — especially for women. I come from an art history background and also work as an artist. Over time, my practice has become deeply connected to questioning how we write history, who gets visibility, and whose voices are left out.

I am a curious person by nature. I don’t easily accept things as they are presented. I question — not to oppose for the sake of it, but to understand more deeply. That curiosity has shaped both my personal life and my work.

Much of my thinking revolves around women’s voices — particularly within Indian cultural contexts where women are often expected to serve, adjust, and place themselves second. Even creative acts that appear “personal,” like quilts made by women, are often ultimately for the family. There is care in that, but I am interested in the absence of the self. When does a woman create something purely for her own expression?

This question led me to work closely with the Siddi community. Through collaboration, I bring my professional understanding of art history and contemporary practice into dialogue with their generational knowledge. Together, we explore how to dissolve the binary between art and craft, how to navigate commercialization without erasing identity, and how to ensure that what is created carries the voice of the woman who made it — not just the demands of the market.

For me, this work is both political and deeply personal. As a woman who has experienced subtle and direct forms of silencing, building my own archive — writing, documenting, making — feels essential. It is my way of claiming space and authorship.

On a personal note, I value honesty over approval. A small truth about me: I don’t live to please others. I love strong coffee, long conversations, and spaces where ideas can be challenged without fear.

I am coming to this journey open and curious — ready to listen, to share, and to see what becomes possible when we gather with intention.”