[Lady Art] Bharti Kher on Adapting her Feminist, Bindi-Themed Universe to the Lady Dior

Welcome to the Dior Talks series themed around the 5th edition of Dior Lady Art and hosted by Paris-based journalist Katya Foreman. For this year’s event, ten artists and collectives from around the world have participated in a game of metamorphosis by rendering the iconic Lady Dior handbag as a unique piece of art. Today’s guest, Delhi-based feminist artist Bharti Kher, discusses the symbolism of the bindi, an emblem of the third eye and the common thread in her creative universe, and explains how she used this traditional Indian sign and its inherent codes, language and poetry to transform the iconic Lady Dior bag. “When I work with the bindis, I take something that is a representation and a sign, and then I just run with it,” says the artist who, for this collaboration, created two bags with different “energies” — one featuring an explosion of fiery red bindis, which “is about a night out with my girlfriends,” and a quieter, more sophisticated version.  Explosions of snake bindis — incarnations of life force, transformation and healing — create hypnotic wave movements over the handbag. Tune in to hear all about the journey behind Bharti Kher’s fun, colorful and irreverent spin on a House icon.  Discover Bharti Kher’s creations :https://youtu.be/VjP2lG6Jb0M

Om Podcasten

Step inside the contemporary Dior mind with ‘Dior Talks’, a series of podcasts aimed at bringing together both the people who directly shape the creative direction of the House and those whose artistic, cultural or intellectual impact influence its narrative. The sixth series, ‘Feminism’, focuses on the women who have inspired Maria Grazia Chiuri, both professionally and personally, and who have been involved in the bold collaborations with the House that the Creative Director of Women’s collections has orchestrated and championed since her arrival in 2016. These podcasts provide a stimulating outlet for the voices of these influential and empowered figures, who talk openly and honestly about their lives, their motivations, the challenges they’ve overcome and their hopes for the future. The series is hosted by Justine Picardie, the London-based journalist and biographer.