When India Became Home: A solo exhibition by Julia Usmanova

A solo exhibition by Russian artist Julia Usmanova, titled When India Became Home, will be held at the Main Gallery, Bikaner House, from June 18 to 23.

Conceptualised by Neena Gulati, the exhibition presents Bilateral Layerings, a new series of figurative paintings inspired by the artist’s long engagement with India, particularly Kolkata and Delhi. Through images of young Indian women, Usmanova explores themes of memory, identity, belonging, and cultural connection.

The works feature distinctly Indian elements such as traditional attire, jewellery, jasmine flowers, birds, dragonflies, and symbolic motifs including the tiger. These recurring images reflect the artist’s personal understanding of “Indianness” while also expressing universal emotions and human experiences.

Moving between reality and dream-like spaces, the paintings examine the relationship between external identity and inner emotional worlds. Symbols such as birds and dragonflies evoke freedom, spirituality, and hope, while the tiger serves as a cultural bridge between Russia and India, referencing both the Siberian and Royal Bengal tiger.

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At the heart of the exhibition is the idea that emotions, memories, and human connections transcend geographical and cultural boundaries. Through her paintings, Usmanova creates a visual dialogue between her Russian roots and her life in India, exploring what it means to find a sense of home in a new country.

When: June 18–23; 11 AM to 7 PM

Where: Main Gallery, Bikaner House, Pandara Road, New Delhi