Sari: Anjum Olmo

Sari is a deeply intimate journey into the traditions, self-expression and expansive nature of the Sari garment, by Australian-Indian artist Anjum Olmo. This exhibition is a reclamation of the artist’s Indian heritage, weaving together nostalgia and cultural identity with her connection to the beautiful Blue Mountains.

Olmo’s practice considers the ever-changing nature of maintaining equilibrium between her South Asian and Australian cultural identities. Sari celebrates the personal journey the artist has embarked on, to cultivate a wholistic identity which respects both past and present.

The story of the Sari begins in India. Translated from Sanskrit, it means a strip of cloth. The Sari is a garment that doesn’t require any stitching, it comes off the loom and is ready to wear. Indian women have been wrapping themselves in Saris for centuries. The humble Sari is a symbol of national pride in India, maintaining its strength as a symbol of continued traditions, master craftsmanship, and self-expression.

Historically, the Sari was worn without undergarments. After the arrival of colonisation and the appointment of a British Raj in India, a blouse and petticoat were included in the construction of the Sari. This addition reflected the conservative colonial agenda of the time and continues today. The Sari remains the traditional dress code for women in South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Irrespective of cast, religion or creed, everyone wears the Sari.