Stories of Immigrant Women

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Madhu Kumar, “Hope,” 2018

oil on canvas, 48” x 60”

The portrait of a woman in a hijab sitting on her sofa next to a white cat is luminous with natural light. Her hands gesture as if she’s in the midst of an animated conversation. There’s visual delight in the faithful representation of patterns on clothing and upholstery. However, it’s the woman’s story that’s of primary interest to Regina artist Madhu Kumar.

“I want to feel them and I want to understand them on a deeper level,” says Kumar, who grew up in India and earned her Bachelor’s degree in fine arts last year at the University of Regina.

Kumar reached out to women through the Regina Immigrant Women Centre, a non-profit group that serves newcomers. Her 13 oil portraits of women from diverse countries – Mexico, Bosnia and Uganda, to name a few – are on view at the Shurniak Art Gallery in Assiniboia, Sask., from Dec. 5 to Feb. 28.

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Madhu Kumar, “A story of desperation, defeats and triumph,” 2018

oil on canvas, 48” x 60”

Accompanying the paintings, based on photos Kumar took of the women at home, are brief texts that summarize their journeys. The white cat in Hope, for instance, was part of a harrowing escape from war-ravaged Syria for Naiela, a former school teacher. Her sister was killed, but somehow, miraculously, the cat survived and was admitted to Canada along with her.

“That’s why I put the cat in the painting, giving it equal importance,” says Kumar.

Like each portrait in the series, Hope is accompanied by a message written by its subject: “Just do what you can to live in peace, to save a soul from death as if you saved the whole world.”

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Madhu Kumar, Moving on …,” 2017

oil on canvas, 48” x 60”

Despite the challenges of adapting to a new country, the sitters reveal their happiness at being in Canada. Kumar expresses their sense of security and freedom by showing the comfort of their homes or effervescent light from a window or doorway.

Kumar includes her own message as part of the show’s textual aspect, urging viewers to “slow down and be patient” with women who are rebuilding their lives in a new country. ■

Madhu Kumar’s show, The Stories of Immigrant Women, is on view at the Shurniak Art Gallery in Assiniboia, Sask., from Dec. 5, 2018 to Feb. 28, 2019.