Ragini by Deeksha Poddar

Venus Figurines, in the 21st Century. Typically voluptuous and full-figured, Venuses are petite Paleolithic statuettes with overtly female attributes. While we have no clear proof of what they portray, we may believe that the object held personal value, and possibly had devotional use. Perhaps they were Goddesses of Fertility or maybe they represented the ideal female body.

The figurines I have made, simply seek to explore the various planes, curves, and folds of different bodies, while indicating that every woman carries within her, the weight of history and the potential to link with it.

Nisha and Ragini were crafted from the same basic slab-formed cylinders, shaping and supporting the hollow forms while pushing the walls in or out. Bimla, the predecessor to these two figures, was made using pinched pots, marking a shift in approach and form.

This artwork was exhibited at Method Delhi in the group exhibition "Fresh Produce" (January 2025).