Collection: Shakuntala Kulkarni

Shakuntala Kulkarni is a Karnataka-born multidisciplinary artist trained at Sir JJ School of Art, MSU Baroda, and Santiniketan under Somnath Hore. Initially focused on mural painting, her work evolved into sculpture, performance, and new media, addressing societal issues, especially the challenges faced by urban women under patriarchal constraints.

Her 1994 work, "Beyond Proscenium", marked a shift toward performance, creating sculptural spaces activated by artists and performers. In 1996, her installation "Caryatid-a Viewpoint" explored women as pillars of societal and religious structures.

In "Reduced Spaces" (2001), Kulkarni addressed the claustrophobia women face in society through a bamboo and gunny sack structure, combining video works and live performance to evoke female empowerment. Her 2004 work, "Ajjincya Goshti (Grandmother’s Tales)", used video to explore generational tensions and societal norms, featuring elderly women’s reflections on India's modernization.

Kulkarni's 2007 exhibition, "And When She Roared the Universe Quaked", combined interactive installations with paintings, inviting viewer participation. Her celebrated 2012 series, "Of Bodies, Armor, and Cages", exhibited internationally, featured cane armors symbolizing both protection and entrapment, blending performance and sculpture to comment on women's roles in public spaces.

Currently based in Mumbai, India.