Chandigarh
18 April 2025
DIVYA AZAD
The Alliance Française Chandigarh today inaugurated Women of Urban India, an evocative exhibition by French-Indian artist Olympe Ramakrishna, running from April 18 to 28, 2025. This compelling series of 12 portraits captures the essence of contemporary Indian women navigating the complexities of modernity while rooted in tradition.
In Women of Urban India, Franco-Indian artist Olympe Ramakrishna presents a striking and vibrant series of portraits that explore the complexity of modern Indian women.
In Women of Urban India, Olympe Ramakrishna portrays 11 women from her own circle—friends, neighbours, and cousins—alongside a self-portrait, integrating herself into their shared narrative. These women, aged between 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, Ramakrishna merges classical and contemporary artistic techniques, evoking the ever-present fabric of the sari, a symbol of both sensuality and heritage. Her work resonates with familiar urban Indian scenes—vivid textiles swaying on rooftop terraces, awaiting the ritual of adornment.
Following successful showcases at Alliance Française, Delhi (March 7-18, 2025)
Alliance Française Ahmedabad (February 6-20, 2025), Kalinka Art Gallery in Pondicherry (February 16 – March 9, 2024), Église du Vieux Saint-Sauveur in Caen, France (January 2-8, 2024), and Alliance Française Bangalore (October 13-29, 2023), 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.
About the Artist
Olympe Ramakrishna is a French-Indian visual artist whose work focuses on identity, memory, and cultural intersections. Blending painting, photography, and textile art, she explores themes of heritage and modernity. Her work has been exhibited internationally, fostering conversations on the evolving narratives of women in contemporary societies.
The exhibition is on from 18 – 28 April / 9 am to 6 pm at Art Gallery of Alliance Française Chandigarh
