Galleria Continua presents in its Parisian space an exhibition dedicated to Made in India, an unpublished photographic series by Leila Alaoui (1982 – 2016), produced during a trip to India in 2014. Eight years after the attack responsible for her premature death, the gallery continues its commitment to promoting and distributing internationally the work of the photographer and videographer, recognized for her emblematic portraits combining photo-documentary, humanism and activism.
Made in India includes a significant number of photographs testifying to the artist’s committed vision. Leila Alaoui made a trip to Chennai, formerly called Madras, in July 2014, to immortalize the faces of a community of women working in a clothing factory. Continuing her work devoted to identity, she seeked above all to immerse herself in the daily lives of these workers. The artist thus wished to meet the women often hidden behind the “Made in India” label attached to clothing found in mass consumer goods. In doing so, it helped to bring them out of anonymity while giving their experiences the power of numbers and the weight of a shared social reality. Leila Alaoui demonstrated her deep attention to maintaining a critical distance, like a photojournalist, while enveloping the subject with a fine, gentle and supportive sensitivity. The exhibition also presents a video produced by Shrikkanth Govindarajan, a young videographer responsible for documenting the creation of this photographic project.
Leila Alaoui : Made in India
from January 19 to March 19, 2024
Galleria Continua / Paris
87 Rue du Temple
75003 Paris
www.galleriacontinua.com
