In the early 1900s, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque introduced collage as an art form to dissolve boundaries between high and low art. Almost a century later, Shakila Sheikh adopted this art form because she didn’t have the money for brush and paints.
Over the past decade, Shakila has risen from poverty to become one of India’s leading collage artists. Her inspiring journey is the subject of the documentary, Shakila - The Collage of Struggle, which was screened at The 7th South Asian Short Film Festival 2024, at Nandan III on July 11. My Kolkata was in the audience.
Independent documentary filmmaker Subhasis Chakraborty spent seven years filming and understanding Shakila
Born on the pavements of Kolkata, Shakila was married to a vegetable vendor, Akbar Sheikh, when she was just 12. Her life changed when she found a mentor in legendary artist B. R. Panesar. He identified her artistic gift and brought attention to her work, leading the way for institutions like the Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA Gallery) to back her collages. A major chunk of the documentary is about his contribution in her life, and her enduring grief at his passing.
Director Subhasis Chakraborty started the filming process in 2015 and continued till 2022. This longstanding commitment is visible in the film, which captures Shakila’s triumphs and challenges with equal empathy. He was particularly fascinated by the recurring theme of Goddess Kali in Shakila’s art, whom she equates with eternal motherhood.
‘This is a matter of great pride for us, and the documentary will inspire many budding artists to be like Shakila,’ said Akbar Sheikh, Shakila’s husband
Not a person of many words, Shakila said she “never consciously thought about” her process. “Somehow, by tearing pieces of paper, my art comes together by itself.”
The screening touched the audience, who gushed about the documentary well after the credits rolled. “The film really emphasises on the fact that creativity is about the mind, and not the function of inheritance,” said Oindrila Banerjee Dey, a writer.
Rakhi Sarkar, founder-director of CIMA Gallery added, “Shakila was a prodigy as a teenager, and remains a unique artist even today. She doesn’t talk much, but all her sentiments are internalised in her art, in an individual way. She proved that even if you don’t have education or privilege, with freedom and inspiration, you can express yourself artistically.”
“CIMA deserves credit for supporting Shakila di’s art. Apart from her collages, her papier mâché work has also gained international attention. It’s almost as if Shakila di speaks through her art,” said Chakraborty, a PhD scholar from Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan. A striking element of the documentary is the use of Lalon Sain’s music, to highlight thoughts and ideas of modernism, which are ahead of their time.
The team from CIMA Gallery with Shakila and her family. ‘While Shakila believes that artists are those who paint, I feel that her collages are her paint, and the way in which she places the layers, are like brushstrokes,’ said (extreme right) Pratiti Basu Sarkar, chief administrator of CIMA
The film was earlier the official selection at the 15th International Documentary & Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2024 and the 25th Madurai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2024. It also received the Festival Mention Documentary Film Award at the 9th International Film Festival of Shimla 2024. “While the accolades have been humbling, the crowd of Kolkata is something else. To have my near and dear ones watch my work is an honour beyond words,” said Chakraborty.
