Advertisement
Sections
Meet Kaleidolite, the artist whose Instagram series on Indian women achievers is a must-see
Shwetha Ramraj aka Kaleidolite highlights Indian women who were pioneers in different fields in her latest series, 'Faces Of India', on Instagram

From featuring India's first renowned female modern artist — Amrita Sher-Gil to one of the first performers to record music on 78 rpm records in India — Gauhar Jaan, Shwetha Ramraj aka Kaleidolite is setting a Wacom style visual art trend of sorts with her latest series, 'Faces Of India'. The series predominantly features pioneering Indian women achievers across various fields.
Did you know Tessy Thomas was the first woman engineer to head a missile project in India? This 'Missile Woman of India'; Bachendri Pal — the first Indian woman to summit of Mount Everest; and Anandi Gopal Joshi — the first Indian female physician, among others are being featured in the digital artist's series.We caught up with the 25-year-old artist to find out more about these simple yet strong artworks, and she said mainstream chatter doesn't really bring out the stories of these women who have done the most revolutionary things. True isn't it? We couldn't agree more."I've always been curious about what drove certain individuals to pursue their dream despite all odds. Subjects close to my heart like photojournalism, mountaineering, music and science is where I started searching and I was awestruck by the sheer drive of these amazing women who could make it happen and did," she told us.What surprised us was that Ramraj is self-taught and the Mysore-based artist who now teaches french at a high school, is actually a BCom graduate and holds a Masters degree in French. Always exploring new styles of art, it looks like she is definitely taking digital art to the next level.Shwetha in the past has often worked on art pieces inspired by Frida Khalo, Buddha and Lord Shiva.[caption id="attachment_3419156" align="alignnone" width="824"]
Digital artworks of Shwetha Ramraj. Courtesy - Instagram/Kaleidolite[/caption]"I am always inspired by real women who stood out, chose to be different and strove through, like Frida Khalo and Amrita Sher-Gill being a huge inspiration," says Shwetha.Kaliedolite, as she is known on Instagram, like many artists started off with canvas and her love for the medium continues. "I'll always be loyal to the canvas, yet my latest experimentation with Wacom has opened up a whole new dimension for me. Wacom tablet gave me a whole new perspective to digital art and hence the switch," she says.Her Instagram page is galore of fascinating art and an occasional quirky LIVE stream of the making of many such pieces.[caption id="attachment_3419162" align="alignnone" width="825"]
The Mandala spacing series by Shwetha Ramraj. Courtesy - Instagram/Kaleidolite[/caption]Not just that, the budding artist's Mandala spacing artworks are also noteworthy. "Mandala has always been my personal form of meditation. Works like magic! Try it," she says. Yes, magic with a psychedelic touch we must say!Shwetha will soon be launching her 'meditation by art' colouring book project, for all ages, that will enable one to discover their inner artist.[caption id="attachment_3422074" align="alignnone" width="537"]
Shwetha Ramraj with her Mandala spacing artwork.[/caption]"Don't be afraid to be you!" is Shwetha's message, as she signs off.
Did you know Tessy Thomas was the first woman engineer to head a missile project in India? This 'Missile Woman of India'; Bachendri Pal — the first Indian woman to summit of Mount Everest; and Anandi Gopal Joshi — the first Indian female physician, among others are being featured in the digital artist's series.We caught up with the 25-year-old artist to find out more about these simple yet strong artworks, and she said mainstream chatter doesn't really bring out the stories of these women who have done the most revolutionary things. True isn't it? We couldn't agree more."I've always been curious about what drove certain individuals to pursue their dream despite all odds. Subjects close to my heart like photojournalism, mountaineering, music and science is where I started searching and I was awestruck by the sheer drive of these amazing women who could make it happen and did," she told us.What surprised us was that Ramraj is self-taught and the Mysore-based artist who now teaches french at a high school, is actually a BCom graduate and holds a Masters degree in French. Always exploring new styles of art, it looks like she is definitely taking digital art to the next level.Shwetha in the past has often worked on art pieces inspired by Frida Khalo, Buddha and Lord Shiva.[caption id="attachment_3419156" align="alignnone" width="824"]
Digital artworks of Shwetha Ramraj. Courtesy - Instagram/Kaleidolite[/caption]"I am always inspired by real women who stood out, chose to be different and strove through, like Frida Khalo and Amrita Sher-Gill being a huge inspiration," says Shwetha.Kaliedolite, as she is known on Instagram, like many artists started off with canvas and her love for the medium continues. "I'll always be loyal to the canvas, yet my latest experimentation with Wacom has opened up a whole new dimension for me. Wacom tablet gave me a whole new perspective to digital art and hence the switch," she says.Her Instagram page is galore of fascinating art and an occasional quirky LIVE stream of the making of many such pieces.[caption id="attachment_3419162" align="alignnone" width="825"]
The Mandala spacing series by Shwetha Ramraj. Courtesy - Instagram/Kaleidolite[/caption]Not just that, the budding artist's Mandala spacing artworks are also noteworthy. "Mandala has always been my personal form of meditation. Works like magic! Try it," she says. Yes, magic with a psychedelic touch we must say!Shwetha will soon be launching her 'meditation by art' colouring book project, for all ages, that will enable one to discover their inner artist.[caption id="attachment_3422074" align="alignnone" width="537"]
Shwetha Ramraj with her Mandala spacing artwork.[/caption]"Don't be afraid to be you!" is Shwetha's message, as she signs off. First Published:May 03, 2017, 18:56:18 IST
Advertisement
Advertisement

Here's why you crave sweets after every meal: This one thing can fix it
It's common to crave something sweet after meals. However, what's often dismissed as "having a sweet tooth," is mostly nutritional deficiency
1 min read
India's most beloved national parks for wildlife lovers
India holds some of the world’s most wonderful wilderness spaces. Forests and jungles where myth, beauty and survival exist side by side. From mangroves that swallow rivers to grasslands shaped by centuries of migration, the country’s national parks offer more than sightings. They offer moments of stillness, surprise, and reverence.
1 min read
Even the Beckhams break: The rise of family estrangement
People are choosing to cut off contact with their families, prioritising mental health.
4 min read
European Council Chief has an OCI card: What is it?
The OCI Scheme, introduced in 2005, grants foreign nationals of Indian origin a life-long visa for India, but no political rights.
1 min read
The 90s show Friends, and why we misread modern friendships
We’ve all heard about the loneliness epidemic at this point. It isn’t even particularly shocking — it seems like the result on the obvious — people consistently glued to their phones, seeking intimacy and even sex through phone screens, consistent comparison to other peoples’ partners, and what their relationships look like, to how far everyone has come in their jobs — there is much to feel diminished about.
5 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
