BARTHI LALWANI

Barthi Lalwani is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and perfumer whose work explores the intersections of art, politics, culture, and history through unconventional mediums. She received her BA in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins College of Art, London (1999–2002), and later earned an MA in Fine Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Singapore (2008–2009).

After beginning her career as the creative head of a group of companies in Lagos, Nigeria, Bharti moved to Singapore, where she emerged as an independent art critic with a focus on socio-political exhibitions. In 2018, she founded Litrahb Perfumery—a platform that uses scent as a tool for cultural critique and sensory storytelling.

Her olfactory practice challenges traditional access to art by engaging audiences beyond visual or academic frameworks. She creates bespoke perfumes for private collectors and has pioneered innovative projects such as Bagh-e-Hind, an open-access digital garden mapping the scents of the late Mughal era, in collaboration with academic Dr. Nicolas Roth. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Rietberg Museum’s 2024 exhibition Ragamala in Zurich.