Depicting Her Essence

The Golden Egg, by Tania Sen — new material composite, nails, metallic and other paints, 12x6x6 inches

A Suitable Girl by Tania Sen — new material composite, nails, metallic and other paints, 12x6x6 inches

Painting is a process of transforming, protecting and sprucing up the surface of a canvas, a fence or a wall. The process of henna however is that of giving or making. It is much like baking. Also perhaps the making of organic fuel of cow patties that are slapped on a vertical surface such as an exterior wall, in neat rows, to dry in the sun. The purpose of henna or baking unlike painting is creating something for consumption. Or something with an application, namely beautification of the body. These works all use henna as a medium and tell a story about women.

If the market value of a bride could be determined, it would include the services that she has the potential to provide. The ability to do housework, inheritance/dowry (property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage). It might also be in the form of a salary she draws which may eventually go towards the household.

“Average height”, “medium complexion” are adjectives often used to describe a girl with relatively modest appearance in classified ads for girls of marriageable age. Much like ads for girls of marriageable age on online forums today. Depicting Her Essence encompasses an understanding that the spirit of a person supersedes her physical attributes, much like a light that a person carries within herself irrespective of her social standing.

Studio Montclair showed appreciation for the Suitable Girl with a prize money and a shoutout in the local media.

My artistic exploration focuses on sustainability's deep connection to a place’s identity. My photographic documentation focuses on grassroot businesses that often promote greener manufacturing, and preserves heritage. Some preliminary photo essays on the topic featured in the Smithsonian publication.

I started my journey at age four, misdiagnosed with diphtheria and confined to a hospital bed in Bihar, India. Even then, it was my dream to make art. After losing my father in my teens, I had to support my family. With a young brother and a stay-at-home mother, I worked writing press releases for the Indian Railways while completing my English degree at Calcutta University.

With an academic scholarship from New York Institute of Technology, I took a leap of faith and moved to NYC for graduate school. After graduation, I spent over twenty years in advertising before transitioning to teaching and art therapy in 2001. I taught Advertising Design at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ, and practiced art therapy with autistic children at the Morris Union Jointure Commission in Warren, NJ.

Embracing contemporary narratives, I experimented with form and media, finding mentors who helped me realize my artistic goals. Essentially self-taught, my works exhibited at the Newark Museum (NJ),
The Royal Scottish Academy, Tate (UK) Mumbai Museum (India) Contemporary Art Museum S. Korea, Torpedo Art Factory, Monmouth Museum (NJ) Haggin Museum (CA), Lalit Kala Academy h (India), Feminist Art Project, Goggleworks, Prince Street Gallery, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, NYC etc.

As a founder member of SIPMA Contemporary, I curated interdisciplinary art exhibits and collaborated on experimental dance and performance art at places like Swarthmore College and the Soho 20 gallery in NYC. My performance art video debuted at the Venice Art Fair in 2024. For more on international exhibitions, click here.

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