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Becoming an artist-entrepreneur has been a joyous journey with all its highs and lows, for Shruti Vij. Here is her story.
Becoming an artist entrepreneur has been a joyous journey with all its highs and lows, for Shruti Vij. Here is her story.
My journey into entrepreneurship was led by art. I am an artist and I trained at NIFT Delhi. After my post graduation I did not take up a full-time job with an organisation, because I felt that would stifle my creativity. As a free-spirited artist I wanted to explore my own potential which is why I started selling my artworks.
I set up Shruti Arts to spread the word about the kind of work I do and I am glad to say that I have been very lucky to have such a great response to my platform which curates my artworks and I use it to sell it all over the world.
The internet has no limitations and I think it is a great tool to reach out to a global audience. Originally it was not a conscious decision to focus on digital, but I started curating my works on the website to build a platform for them and to showcase them to a larger global audience. The rest just followed. I started getting inquiries through the website for selling my designs and I thought of growing it further. My inspiration was always my art and a desire to showcase it to a larger audience.
Of course, the journey is not always a smooth one. There are everyday issues that you have to take in your stride, some big and some small but at the end of the day, it’s a joyous journey. Your focus should be on your expertise and what you are offering and the money will follow. I am focused on my art and always strive to better it. When I get appreciation for that it means a lot to me and when people want to have it for keeps, make a part of their lives, it is highly gratifying.
Since the journey is long, it is important to have courage and belief in your work. Don’t get dejected by criticism. Some times, the response may come very slowly, but if you have faith in what you are doing, you will get there.
In my case, since I started small, I did not have any problems pertaining to funds. All I needed was some space for my art studio and some art equipment. I started off with a small room in my house, and made it my studio where I would do my painting. The art materials came out of the savings I had made over a few years. My family has been very supportive of my work and have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams.
For me, the biggest moments of success have been when I received appreciation from art aficionados and critics alike in India as well as abroad. A few of my works have also been exhibited in various International events like the Delhi International Film Festival and Indo-Korean Art Festival.
It’s not always smooth sailing, so you have to take the ups and downs of your journey as they come. Keep the faith strong and keep surging ahead.
Gurugram based artist Shruti Vij , A post graduate from National Institute Of Fashion Technology ( NIFT) , New Delhi, is a born art enthusiast and a painter with a distinct individual style.Painting for her is a read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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