Bangalore Artist's Work at Times Square

When Bangalore artist Sandhya Sirsi submitted her painting `Iye See You' for the Long Island-based See.me campaign, she was only looking for a platform for her work seen by those in the international art business.

So, when she got an email last week confirming that her work would be displayed at New York's Times Square today , she was thrilled. "I submitted my artwork to See.me, which is an online platform for creative people to display, promote or get support for their work. I first got an email last week saying that the jury had selected my painting, and the latest one said that it will be displayed on the largest billboard on 46th Street, Broadway , Times Square in New York tonight, between 8 pm and 9 pm (between 5 am and 6 am IST)," says Sandhya.

The painting -which shows a woman's face and a bird morphed together, and the bird being reflected in the woman's eyes -is Sandhya's way of paying tribute to women and girls in Indian society . "It represents the craving women have for the place they deserve in society . The bird represents the freedom they want -the freedom that they are entitled to in a democratic society ," she explains.

The theme seems very timely , considering the number of recent reports of sexual crimes committed against women in Bangalore. "It isn't just Bangalore; the entire country is going through this. I hope it stops and that India as a country gives women respect -the sooner, the better," says Sandhya.