Shalini Karn painted Women Fish Vendors for the by-invitation-only International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2019. Her visa to attend the event was denied so I thought I would bring the work to you here.
The painting is striking in its symmetrical tripartite composition. Against a background of curving branches of green and yellow leaves dotted with red berries three women fish vendors occupy the entire top half of the canvas. They share the space equally, each one under a similar canopy on bamboo poles. The bottom half of the canvas is divided by their displays of fish, each display directly in front of each of the women. Three spaces set over three spaces – six frames in all for the art. Meanwhile, elegant black crows with white stripes march across the tops of the canopies adding a touch of whimsy to an otherwise formal design.
The women in their simple saris appear as confident figures sitting purposefully, proudly with their attractive arrangement of fish for sale. The central figure immediately catches our attention. While her two companions on either side are shown in profile, relaxed, waiting to sell their fish, she boldly confronts passersby with her direct gaze to have them stop and take a look at her fish. Waiting is not her game. The displays themselves are a delight of artistry and imagination. The large glass vat is swimming with small fish their scales flashing bright colors in the blue water while the middle display of large yellow and aqua colored fish sits on a bed of green leaves artfully surrounded by heaps of small fry fish. A shallow tank filled with the supple curves of swimming grey carp is the third display. Their dark bodies, white heads and curling mustaches clearly visible against the lighter grey of the tank.
The artist presents a wonderful tableau of women fish vendors and also shows that selling fish at a market is no simple matter but requires confidence, courage and a bit of art in attracting customers.
Signed by Shalini Karn the work is acrylic on canvas. Overall dimensions are 60×54 in. but picture size is 42×35 in. 2019.