Singing into the Void: Feminist Visual Arts Practice

Singing into the Void: Feminist Visual Arts Practice

Kicking off with Shirin Neshat’s incredible short film Turbulent, we bear witness to the beauty of a female singer in Iran serenading an empty audience, whilst the man opposite her sings to a full room of applause.

This comment on the suffocating gender divide sets the scene for further conversations on patriarchy.

Lotte Johnson, the curator of Indonesian artist Citra Sasmita’s exhibition at the Barbican will share the themes found in the artist’s work. Sasmita takes control of the Balinese Kamasan mythological narratives, many inspired by Buddhist and Hindu stories, and reimagines them through the female lens.

Artist Aziza Kadyri brings together women artists in Uzbekistan through the collective Qizlar. We hear how they empower the next generation, teaching them digital skills, crafting techniques, and organising events that focus on the female gaze. They ‘activate’ for and with women, without calling themselves ‘activists’…but only because of the patriarchal society within which they live.

What creative work do we do to undermine societal norms? What collectives are they a part of, that are working to change women’s lives?

Bagri Samaya Series

A Woman Hums: Women, Voice, Creativity

In 2025, the Bagri Foundation highlights the power of the female voice. This year we are providing support to four first-time UK solo exhibitions by female Asian artists, an award to continue women’s writing from Afghanistan, a female-led curatorship for Brighton Festival, Asian film festivals that celebrate female actresses and female directors, and a dance performance which tells the myth of a matriarchal society derived from Southwest Asia. As women’s rights continue to be threatened and rolled back worldwide, our female-led team works hard to champion a constant hum from the energy of women who create waves across the cultural landscape.

To continue this theme, and echoing global efforts reflected in 2025’s international Women’s Day’s theme #AccelerateAction, the Bagri Foundation presents our inaugural Bagri Samaya Series, a moment of culture, creativity and connections. Samaya, meaning ‘time’ or ‘a moment in time’.

A Woman Hums spotlights the work of women creatives who continue to inspire our mission to cultivate a meaningful space for Asian arts and culture. Through the lens of feminism, we delve into literature, visual arts, film and photography from across Asia and the diaspora.

Our panels celebrate the power of women to find and own their creativity, share the realities of being a woman in the world today, and encourage us to raise up the female voice. As sharing is a two-way process, we invite audiences to bring their inspiration to share with this intimate group and help us put together resources for fellow female artistic empowerment.