Google Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Zarina Hashmi
Google Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of Zarina Hashmi, a pioneer of minimalist art and printmaking.
Born in Aligarh, India, on July 16, 1937, Hashmi grew up in a family of intellectuals and scholars who fostered her love of literature and poetry.
Hashmi studied mathematics at Aligarh Muslim University and later moved to Bangkok, Thailand, with her husband, a diplomat.
She began to explore art as a means of expression and learned woodblock printing in Bangkok, intaglio in Paris, and papermaking in Japan.
Hashmi's work reflects her nomadic experience and her attachment to the concept of home, often using abstract geometric forms and Urdu calligraphy.
She also drew inspiration from Islamic architecture, philosophy, and history, creating works that evoke the beauty and spirituality of her cultural heritage.
Hashmi moved to New York in 1976 and became part of a vibrant community of artists and activists who challenged the mainstream art world.
She co-founded the Indian Printmakers Guild and was a member of the feminist collective Heresies.
She exhibited her work internationally and received numerous awards and honors, including the President's Award for Printmaking from the India Triennale in 1982.
Hashmi passed away in 2020, leaving behind a rich and influential body of work that continues to inspire generations of artists and viewers.