Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
Kolkata | February 15, 2026
Kolkata has always been a city that loves a good argument, especially when it involves art and politics. Today, that tradition hit a new high as the Goethe-Institute opened a massive international exhibition called “Empowerment: Art and Feminisms.” This isn’t your typical gallery walk with framed paintings on a white wall. It’s a multidisciplinary takeover featuring 31 artists and collectives from South Asia and across the world. We’re talking neon signs, virtual reality, performance art, and raw photography—all aimed at deconstructing what “feminism” actually looks like in 2026.
A Global Conversation in Park Mansions
The show is a collaboration with the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, brought to life by curators Andreas Beitin, Katharina Koch, and Uta Ruhkamp. While the themes are global, seeing this in Kolkata feels right. The city has always been at the crossroads of theatre, literature, and protest.
The curators aren’t trying to sell one “correct” version of feminism. Instead, they’ve created a space where international ideas rub shoulders with the very specific lived experiences of South Asian women and non-binary people. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and it’s deeply relevant.
Beyond the Canvas: The High-Tech and the Handmade
The variety of the work is what keeps you hooked.
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The Invisible Work: Several installations focus on the “Labor of Care”—the unpaid, often ignored household work that predominantly falls on women. By putting these domestic struggles in a gallery, the artists make them impossible to ignore.
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The Virtual and the Luminous: You can step into a VR headset to experience alternative feminist realities or stand under glowing neon slogans that feel like street protests turned into light.
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The Earth Connection: A big chunk of the show links gender justice with climate change. It argues that you can’t fix the planet without fixing how we treat the people on it.
Not Just a Static Display
The Goethe-Institute is turning this into more than just a show to “look at.” Over the next few weeks, there’s going to be a constant stream of panel discussions, workshops, and artist talks. The goal is to turn the venue into a town square for debate.
Whether it’s students from nearby art colleges or local activists, the exhibition is designed to spark a bit of friction and a lot of conversation. It touches on everything from gender identity and “planetary” concerns to the history of resistance movements.
Why This Matters Now
Feminist art has come a long way from the 1970s. Today, it’s intersectional—it deals with class, race, ecology, and technology all at once. This exhibition doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff, but it’s also celebratory. It shows how art can be a tool for survival and a catalyst for change.
The Verdict: If you’re in Kolkata, this is the one show you can’t miss. It’s a reminder that art isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about power, privilege, and the possibility of a different kind of future.
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