Google paid tribute to the renowned Indian-American artist and printmaker, Zarina Hashmi, on her 86th birthday by featuring her in a specially designed Google Doodle. The doodle highlighted Hashmi’s artistic contributions and her significant role in the feminist movement. Born on July 16, 1937, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Zarina Hashmi gained recognition for her association with the minimalist movement and her unique exploration of abstract and geometric shapes in her artwork. The doodle commemorated Hashmi’s life and work, shedding light on her family’s displacement during the partition of India in 1947.
Forced to flee to Karachi, Pakistan, Hashmi’s personal experience with displacement and borders became central themes in her artistic expression. The use of abstract and geometric shapes in her artwork allowed her to delve into the concepts of home, memory, and displacement. After marrying a young foreign service diplomat at the age of 21, Hashmi traveled to various countries, including Bangkok, Paris, and Japan. During her time in Japan, she became deeply involved in the world of printmaking and artistic movements such as modernism and abstraction. In 1977, Hashmi made the significant move to New York City, where she became a strong advocate for women and artists of color.
Hashmi’s involvement in the feminist movement led her to join the influential ‘Heresies Collective’ and teach at the New York Feminist Art Institute. In 1980, she co-curated an exhibition at A.I.R. Gallery called ‘Dialectics of Isolation: An Exhibition of Third World Women Artists of the United States.’ This groundbreaking exhibition provided a platform for female artists of color to showcase their diverse works, challenging traditional art spaces and narratives. Renowned for her woodcuts and intaglio prints, Hashmi’s art featured semi-abstract images of houses and cities where she had lived, reflecting her personal experiences and emotional connections. Her work captivated audiences with its evocative exploration of identity, belonging, and the human experience.
Sadly, Zarina Hashmi passed away in 2020, leaving behind a significant artistic legacy that continues to be celebrated and contemplated by people around the world. Through the Google Doodle, her life, works, and contributions to the feminist movement were honored, reminding us of the lasting impact she made on the art world and beyond. Google Doodles are temporary alterations of the Google logo displayed on its homepages, created to commemorate important events and recognize notable individuals who have made significant contributions to society.