Artist Kota Neelima is exhibiting 40 paintings and photographs that speak of widows in Maharashtra.

Author-artist Kota Neelima, who has researched rural distress and farmers' suicides, is currently exhibiting a selection of 40 paintings and photographs that speak of the condition of these farmers' widows in Maharashtra.

The poster shared by the artist on her social media page.

Her exhibition "The Nature of Things: Death and Dualism in Indian Villages" is open for public viewing from August 23-29 at the India Habitat Centre here.

A picture of a widow showcased in the exhibition.

Her research work was focussed on the Beed district of Maharashtra, which records a high incidence of farmer suicides and is a drought-affected region of Marathwada.

The exhibition seeks to assist the families of the farmers who committed suicide.

In an interview with IANS, Neelima said that the paintings are inspired from her conversations with farmers' widows, who are battling severe distress but still strive to be hopeful and resilient.

The exhibition seeks to assist the families of the farmers who committed suicide, by utilising the proceeds from the sale of the artworks for them, Neelima said.

Indo-Asian News Service