Embroidering dignity, from India to Paris
Works developed by artist Lauren Januhowski during her 2024 residency at the Kalhath Institute in Lucknow, as part of Villa Swagatam, are currently being presented across multiple venues in Europe. These presentations include a group exhibition in Paris, a solo exhibition in Madrid, and the launch of a publication in Paris.
During her two-month residency in Lucknow, Lauren undertook a period of research and production focused on India’s textile traditions. Engaging closely with Kalhath’s master artisans, she explored embroidery techniques central to her practice, while situating them within a broader historical and cultural context. This process contributed to a shift in her approach to image-making, informed by both technical exchange and an engagement with local material practices. The resulting body of work reflects on personal and collective narratives, drawing from architectural elements and visual environments in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The works also address questions of transmission, memory, and the circulation of knowledge, particularly through intergenerational practices associated with textile-making. References to spatial experience, movement, and forms of gathering are recurrent, alongside a focus on the role of craft as a medium of continuity and exchange.
The full body of work created at Kalhath Institute is being presented for the first time in Europe in a solo exhibition at Marquesa Gallery in Madrid, Spain. Titled What We Invoke and curated by Victoria Rivers, the exhibition opened on April 10, 2026. One embroidery produced during the residency is also currently on view as part of a group exhibition at Börjesson Perotti, located in the Marais in Paris. The exhibition brings together a selection of contemporary artists and will run until May 17, 2026.
In parallel, the artist has co-developed a publication titled Grounding Rituals, focusing on her research and practice during her time in India. The publication has been awarded the Bourse Stampa by ADAGP. It will be launched on May 7, 2026, at Librairie Sans Titre, where one of the embroideries produced during the residency will also be exhibited for several weeks.
