From the ‘Concerns’ Desk ... March 2008

Age of Photography

February, for the Delhi art lovers at least, was a month of photography. Photography shows were everywhere, right from National Museum to Travancore Palace Art Gallery. It was mainly a Bodhi Art Gallery driven move in which Nature Morte also took a part. It was interesting to catch up with all these shows and they together boosted up the confidence level of many of the photography artists.

In the National Museum, Pablo Bartholomew presented his solo show with the photographs taken during 1970s and 80s. Traversing between autobiographical and biographical moments, these photographs gave an idea about how the ‘flower children’ of India operated in the post-Nehruvian socio-political context. Bharat Sikka, another young photography artist presented by Nature Morte at the National Museum had his takes on urban landscapes exemplified through the construction of flyovers.

In the National Gallery of Modern Art, there were four photography exhibitions together. They featured the works of Henri Cartier Bresson, the collection of Ibrahim Alkazi, the Sher Ghil collection of Vivan Sundaram and an assorted collection of pictures from the international photo agency, Magnum. These shows provided a feast for the art lovers as they presented history and present of India through certain impressive moments.

At Lalit Kala Akademy Galleries, noted photography artist Ram Rahman presented his solo show, a selection from his three decade long career. Hosted by Bodhi Art Gallery, Ram Rahman’s works brought forth the political, social, cultural and subversive images which could together tell the story of India’s transition from modernity to post-global times.

Bodhi presented another young photography artist, Binu Bhaskar at Travancore Art Gallery. Binu spent almost a decade in Australia, academically studying photography and then shifted his base to the Middle East before he resettled back in India. Currently he works from three locations, Delhi, Mumbai and Kerala. Inspired nature and spaces, his works bring forth conceptual values of image, form, light, speed and perception.

In Mumbai, during the same month, Bodhi presented the photographic works of Ketki Seth. Mumbai based Mathius and Foss Gallery exclusively present photography shows. Recently, young art critic Gitanjali Dang curated a show in Priayshree Gallery, Mumbai. Titled ‘Post-Visual’ this show presented a set of young photography artists.

I would not say that photography has ‘come of age’ in India now only. Photography has always been there and the galleries have found them out now. Anyway, it is a good indication. In someway, photography, at least for the time being, has edged out other cutting edge media art forms. They can wait till the galleries and funders ‘find them out’, I am sure, in a foreseeable future.

I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi again for their efforts to fund community based public art projects. Vadehra’s sister concern, Foundation for Indian Visual Arts (FICA) has recently announced this grant and they await applications from artists.

As usual artconcerns.com has several interesting articles in this upload also.

So enjoy reading

Yours truly,

JohnyML

johnyml@gmail.com