Queens is a print series using copper and zinc etched plates with rosin aquatint overlay. The subjects are notable women in history whose legacy continues to shape the mindset of our generation.
I focused on the iconic elements of each subject’s appearance and chose to block print the portraits in multiples using bold lines and tones: my intention is to mirror the impact of the women’s personalities in the form of the print. The display is deliberately arranged in a non-chronological sequence to emphasise the timeless appeal of the women and their legacies.
Recognised by her pill-box hat, over-sized block-out sun-glasses and Chanel matching suits. Jackie was an important patron of the arts being the first ‘First Lady’ to formally align the United States White House with education and advocacy around the arts and philosophy. Her efforts were seen as even more valiant as she pursued them in the face of tragically losing her husband in a public assassination.
'The most elegant woman in Hollywood’ recognised for the little black dress and pearl earring combo in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey was one of the first actresses of her time to use her fame to advocate for human rights. A victim of social marginalisation and extreme poverty herself in Nazi-occupied Holland, Audrey was a Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF and went on to become the recipient of the Jean Hershoit Humanitarian Award; in her memoir she recalls valuing this honor more than her Academy Award nomination.
Celebrated as a revolutionary for her deeply personal and guttural self-portraits, Frida used her paintings to narrate the many facets of her life with tender and at times brutal honesty. The pain of living with a physical disability, combined with the challenges of being a queer, socially provocative woman of colour in a male dominated society are clearly depicted in her works. She cleverly juxtaposes these oppressive elements with a soft and colourful painterly technique to remind us that even during the most challenging circumstances we have the ability to draw on our personal power and beauty. Frida’s timeless works have become her legacy and by fearlessly advocating for ‘self’, she reminds us that despite great adversity there is strength in vulnerability and that there is spirit beyond our physical bodies.
‘The last and first true supermodel’ recognised in her debut Calvin Klein campaign for being the woman to break the trend of Amazonian models in the 90s. Kate is the first natural and minimalist fashion icon of her era. Competing against the perfection of her peers, she was younger, shorter with asymmetric features and no curves, and preferred parading around in jeans and old shirts than dresses and heels. She unapologetically flaunted her look, famously quoting ‘I don’t know how to be anyone else—you either like me as I am or you don’t like me’. Following her debut she landed the most international ad-campaigns in one year for any model in contemporary history, and became the face of the modern woman.
SARIKA GUPTA ART
The Clio Art Fair is a biannual event held in Manhattan, New York City that was inaugurated in 2014. The fair invites 50 international artists, who do not yet have exclusive gallery representation, to showcase their creative endeavours against the vibrant New York City landscape. The event showcases a wide variety of contemporary art including: drawing, painting, photography, metal work, ceramics, sculpture and performance. MORE INFORMATION
Sarika exhibited images from her time on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as part of a group exhibition curated by fellow Sydney artist Kate Hopkinson Pointer. The expedition was an additional effort to understand the workings of rural and remote communities in the highland regions of PNG in order to inform better healthcare delivery models. MORE HERE
‘Without Rose Coloured Glasses’ was Sarika’s first solo exhibition in Sydney, Australia at the Queen Street Gallery in Woollahra.The exhibit detailed experiences from her volunteer work in India, Burma andPapua New Guinea. The event was an outstanding success with over $AUD9000 raised from exhibition sales to support public health campaigns. MORE HERE
In 2015, Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia) launched its second RAW event (an independent organization for artists) in which Sarika’s work was selected for display from a numberof other applicants. MORE HERE
In 2015, The Other Art Fair launched its first event in Sydney, Australia: Sarika’s work was selected for display from a number of other applicants. The Other Art Fair is a global gathering of creative thinkers, game changers and pleasure seekers sharing emerging talent and unforgettable experiences. Set against the backdrop of the world’s biggest cities, each fair is different. MORE HERE
Sarika Gupta is a Sydney based doctor and artist. She is a highly trained sub-specialist Obstetrician-Gynaecologist-Sonologist who regularly volunteers her medical services in rural and disadvantaged communities throughout South Asia and the Asia Pacific. Her passion for art backdates to her school years, and in 2014 she found a way to combine her interests for medicine and art in advocating for women’s health and wellbeing.
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NSW 2000 Australia
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Sarika is participating in the 2023 Clio Art Fair in May with a two-piece exhibition set featuring photographic images from her 'In The Shadows' series and print etchings from her 'Queens' series - featuring portraits of notable twentieth century female icons. Location - Manhattan, New York City in May 2023. MORE HERE