Google Doodle has paid tribute to Indo-American artist Zarina Hashmi on what would have been her 86th birthday. The search giant honoured the acclaimed artist with a colourful illustration on its homepage on July 16, 2023.
Zarina Hashmi, who was born in Aligarh, India, in 1937, was a renowned artist who worked in a variety of mediums, including printmaking, sculpture, and drawing. She was best known for her minimalist and abstract works that explored themes of displacement, memory, and belonging.
Throughout her career, Zarina Hashmi's work was celebrated for its poetic and deeply personal nature, which reflected her own experiences as a Muslim woman who had lived in India, Pakistan, and the United States.
In the Google Doodle, Zarina Hashmi is depicted sitting at a table with a cup of tea, surrounded by some of her iconic works, including her signature "Home is a Foreign Place" series. The illustration captures the artist's gentle spirit and her love of simple pleasures.
Zarina Hashmi's journey as an artist began in the 1950s, when she trained as a printmaker at the Sir JJ School of Art in Mumbai. After completing her studies, she worked as a graphic designer for the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai before moving to Europe in the early 1960s.
In 1964, Zarina Hashmi moved to New York City, where she became part of a vibrant artistic community that included renowned artists like Sol LeWitt, Agnes Martin, and Donald Judd. It was during this time that she began to develop her distinctive artistic style, which drew on her experiences of displacement and exile.
Over the years, Zarina Hashmi's work was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious United States Artists Fellowship in Visual Arts.
Zarina Hashmi's work continues to inspire and influence artists today, and her legacy as a pioneering female artist of colour is an important part of the art world's history. Through her art, she challenged stereotypes and pushed boundaries, creating a body of work that spoke to the experiences of many people who have been displaced from their homes.
The Google Doodle honours Zarina Hashmi's contributions to the art world and serves as a reminder of her enduring legacy. It is a fitting tribute to an artist whose work continues to inspire and provoke thought, even years after her passing.