Latest news with #Dupion
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Olympe Ramakrishna's silk portraits narrate the evolving stories of urban middle class women
'I've displayed these portraits under high ceilings too, but I think this is the lowest one,' says Franco-Indian visual artist Olympe Ramakrishna, referring to the low ceiling at Alliance Française of Hyderabad. Her installation, Women of Urban India, currently showing at the French institute, features 12 oil portraits on silk, suspended from the ceiling like sarees drying on rooftop terraces. Stories of contemporary women The series portrays women we encounter every day — in neighbourhoods, offices, on travels, and among friends. Each image captures the essence of India's urban middle-class women: resilient, constantly adapting, and balancing the delicate tug between tradition and modernity. As a researcher studying femininity and women's identity, Olympe first arrived in Bengaluru in 2010 from Normandie in France , where she was struck by a new generation of urban middle-class women. The changes she observed, she notes, went far beyond clothing choices. From crafting their own life paths to balancing multiple roles, these women navigate two worlds — one shaped by global influences, the other rooted in tradition. Pointing to one of the portraits, she reflects on the generational shift: the difference between this woman, her mother, and her grandmother is vast, something she says is far less pronounced in Europe, where three generations of women in her own family have led largely similar lives. Saris and silk The artist first painted the women — some neighbours, friends, and two of her husband's cousins — on canvas. She then photographed the works, printed them onto Dupion silk, and suspended the portraits from the ceiling, mimicking the gentle sway of saris drying on rooftops. The idea was inspired by evenings spent watching families gather on Bengaluru's terraces —children playing, grandparents chatting, and birds returning to the park, as freshly dried clothes were collected. Having grown up around silk — ironing wedding dresses for her designer father, John Francois — the fabric felt like a natural medium for Olympe's installation. The project, which began two years ago, debuted in Bengaluru in November 2023, and has since travelled to Puducherry, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Paris. Next, she plans to explore the women of Kerala and Tamil Nadu through a large woven tapestry. Women of Urban India by Olympe Ramakrishna on display at Alliance Francaise Hyderabad till June 15
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh's famed Polavaram cotton sarees seek GI tag
1 2 3 Hyderabad: After the artisans of Andhra Pradesh's renowned Madhavamala wood carvings and Palamner terracotta, it is now the turn of weavers of the state's famed Polavaram cotton sarees to make a bid for a geographical indication (GI) tag for their unique handloom product. Woven by weavers from Polavaram and Bandar regions in Krishna dist, these sarees are made from high-count cotton yarns (around 80s to 100s count), which gives them a fine, soft texture and also makes them lightweight. Polavaram sarees are also known for their cotton border that is embellished with intricate butta work (motifs) and jacquard pallus. They trace their origin to Krishna dist's weaving. Polavaram cotton sarees trace their origins to Machilipatnam and date back several centuries when it was a prominent port under dynasties such as the Qutb Shahi as well as the Dutch. The GI application has been filed by Polavaram Cotton Handloom Weavers Mutually Aided Co-operative Society Limited with financial assistance from Nabard and help from Hyderabad-based Resolute4IP. Set up in 1944 with just 42 members, the society today has 213 weavers as members. The society is a part of Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society Ltd. The GI application, which was filed on May 19 and has been numbered 1,539, is the 22nd product from AP to file for GI registration, said Resolute4IP founder and GI practitioner Subhajit Saha, who helped with the filing. Saha said there are three more products from AP in the pipeline for GI filing that will take the total number of GI products from the state to 25. These include Kadapagunta Tella Jilledu, Madhavaram cotton and silk sarees, as well as Dupion cloth. So far, 1,546 GI applications have been filed in India, with 697 GIs registered till date.
