Latest news with #OlympeRamakrishna
The Hindu
21 hours 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
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
An evocative series of portraits on modern Indian women
Olympe Ramakrishna An ongoing exhibition at Alliance Française Chandigarh is an evocative tribute to modern Indian women by French-Indian artist Olympe Ramakrishna . A French-Indian visual artist, her work focuses on identity, memory, and cultural intersections. Women of Urban India is a series of 12 portraits that reflect the essence of the contemporary woman as she meanders through present lifestyle while staying true to her tradition. Of the portraits, Ramakrishna has portrayed 11 women from her own friends, neighbours, and cousins, while the 12 th is a self-portrait. 'These women, in their 20s and 40s, embody the dynamic spirit of India's urban middle class. Through oil painting and large-scale digital prints on silk panels, I have merges classical and contemporary artistic techniques, evoking the ever-present fabric of the sari, a symbol of both sensuality and heritage,' she says. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People In Chhattisgarh Say Goodbye To Mosquitoes With This Revolutionary Solution Mosquito Eliminator Read More Undo Her work reflects her milieu of urban Indian landscapes, and weaves in vivid textiles on rooftop terraces. adornment. Following successful showcases at various Alliance Française locations including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and other galleries in Pondicherry, Église du Vieux Saint-Sauveur in Caen, France, this exhibition continues to engage audiences worldwide. Each edition offers a unique dialogue between the viewers and the portrayed subjects, highlighting the resilience, aspirations, and cultural ties of women in modern India. Blending painting, photography, and textile art, Olympe Ramakrishna explores themes of heritage and modernity. Her work has been exhibited internationally, fostering conversations on the evolving narratives of women in contemporary societies.
