Chennai to witness its first international photo festival ‘Chennai Photo Biennale’ for all the photo-enthusiasts and photographers. The event is going to roll from February 26th and proceed until March 13th, with a series of events designed to serve as a window for photographic art in South India.Jointly organised by Goethe-Institut Chennai and Travelling Lens, the Chennai Photo Biennale aims to bring photographers from across the globe, paving the way for a visual treat and sharing of ideas that will in turn give rise to a strong photographic community in south India. The exhibition will include works by people like Cristina de Middel from Spain, Denis Dailleux from France and many more.In January a workshop-cum-exhibition, “Urban Water”, was held as part of the festival. From images of plastic fished out of water and shot in a studio to those of an intense grid of coloured water pipes, 15 photographers, based in India and abroad showcased their images under the mentorship of Munem Wasif, Ravi Agarwal and Andreas Deffner.The same will be showcased throughout the Chennai Photo Biennale at the MRTS Light House Station. The biennale is also going to exhibit photographs at four train stations and one public park, the Nageshwara Rao Park.Talking about the event Helmut Schippert, Director, Goethe-Institut says, “I remember meeting Varun at my office shortly after I took over. Here was a photographer who wanted to do something meaningful in the city. As we got talking, the project became bigger, and here we are today. As a German, I relate artistically to photography, given our long line of successful German photographers. Personally, I think being able to see huge prints in a park will be a refreshing change from the multitude of commercial and political hoardings that we are otherwise exposed to.”“Bringing the Delhi Photo Festival was a great way to bring down works by a cross-section of professionals. Varun and I personally went and chose the works that will be displayed here, which is a little over half of what was displayed at the Capital. We made a conscious effort to choose pictures that come under the theme of personal identity, and refugees and migrants. This is something people will be able to relate to,” he adds.Surrealistic By Nature – a second exhibition with the same line will be held at the Nageshwara Rao Park from 27 February. Curated by Chennai-based French photographer Yannick Cormier, this exhibition is all about tradition, about communities and how they keep this cultural identity alive in a modern world.The recently held Delhi Photo Festival will also be part of this biennale. Photographers whose works will be showcased include Raghu Rai, Angélica Dass, Emanuele Satolli and the late Kishor Parekh.There are also offerings from partner galleries such as Alliance Française de Madras and Spaces, Besant Nagar. Artist Talks, where photographers will take you through their journeys and speak about their current projects, will include names like Dailleux, Philip Blenkinsop, Walter Astrada and Pablo Bartholomew.Talking about the workshops and projects, Varun Gupta from Travelling Lens says, “The Chennai Photo Biennale will have a huge line-up of events. The idea is to showcase works in every corner of the city. Public art is a great way to encourage public engagement. We’re taking over three MRTS stations, Nageshwara Rao Park, and even the outdoor space at Lalit Kala Akademi. A lot of traditional galleries are also participating in the event.”“The three major exhibits that we will host are Urban Water, Surrealistic By Nature and the Delhi Photo Festival that Helmut Schippert, director of Goethe-Institut, and I personally curated. One of the biggest challenges we faced while organising the biennale was obtaining permissions. Not because the officials were non-cooperative, but largely because there are no policies in place regarding art in public places.” He adds.“For almost every space that we wanted to utilise, they had to make an exception, and these things took time. So, one of the things I hope to do is lobby for support in the artist community for this kind of a policy.”Key Highlights:Workshops: Urban Water:A unique workshop that will bring three mentors for 12 participants, who will put together an installation on urban water and water-related issues in Chennai to be exhibited during the photo biennale. All costs will be covered for the participants, and while some are invited, a few of these scholarships will be on open call submissions.Surreal by Nature:Curated by Yannick Cormier, a French photographer who has lived in Chennai for the last 9 years, the idea behind this is to expose other kinds of photography beyond just beach pictures. It will feature works by 10 world-famous, well-renowned photographers; photos that will make you stop and think. It is not obvious: sometimes there will be a story, at other times it is visual language. This we want to be displayed in a public park, but the venue is yet to be decided.Delhi Photo Festival:A curated selection of 25 photographers from the shows based on the theme ‘Aspire’. The photos have been selected keeping in mind limitations of space at the venue, and are all linked by the notion of identity. This will be on during the photo biennale at Lalit Kala Akademi.Photo intervention at the Station:This is a public participation project where photographers from around India will be able to submit images from Chennai. The best images will be selected and displayed in public spaces.ExhibitionIn Dreams Madhavan PalanisamyIn his series, Madhavan Palanisamy takes you inside the rabbit hole where interesting and bizarre things happen. There is a space inside our subconscious where dreams are born, where we inhabit a world that is filled with the strange beauty of cinematic experiences, psychedelic landscapes and whimsical stories. This series explores this space with my photography, writing and film work. On till March 13, Focus 2 Art GalleryFilmMy Camera and Tsunami (90 min)RV Ramani A filmmaker and his camera have a special bonding. This film is a memory of a camera which perished in the Tsunami, along with its last filmed footage. Its last recorded footage is an elusive image which evokes multiple responses, seeking parallels and new perspectives.March 11, 7.30pm, Goethe-InstitutWorkshopWalter Astrada – One Day Photography Workshop on StorytellingAfter living in different countries and working with various news agencies on social issues and conflicts, Walter decided to experience the world on his Royal Enfield. With bare minimum essentials, he set out to see the most he can, on this phenomenal journey across continents. Walter has been the recipient of numerous awards including 3 World Press Photo Awards, The Bayeux-Calvados award for War Correspondents, NPPA-BOP, Photojournalist of the Year and Best of Show, the PGB Photographer of the Year and Picture of the Year, the list is endless. Feb 25, Phoenix Market City Centre, Velachery Fees: 4,200 INRCurated ProjectionLove me Twice TodayRonny SenLove me twice today explores new photographic works done in East and West Bengal. As the name itself is devoid of politics the works are put together with the starting premise, Ak Akash Ak Mati. The ideas of nationalities and borders are almost dismissed, and each photographic work is treated bearing in mind its own individuality. As if it’s only a chance or a coincidence that the works belong to a certain geo-political space when looked at individually. Collectively they speak about similarities more than they speak about distances.Feb 28, 7pm, Goethe-InstitutSymposiumCurating Photography: Archival & ContemporaryModerator: Rahaab AllanaWith the advent of festivals, grants, schools, publications and other platforms catered to photographers/visual artists over the past few years, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of photography or lens-based media in India. However, in the absence of any significant cultural policy, how can we develop further partnerships with private institutions while maintaining the absolute freedom of expression? There is hence an urgency to examine the state of photography (as a visual art) education. How can we foster a critical discourse on photography and visual culture and is curatorial practice now needed more than ever? Are curators, agents or intermediaries and how does curatorial practice bleed into the popular? As curation has to do with paradigms and isms, as much as with an interest in an audience, how are these binaries being negotiated? Is a curator an importer of value to a work? The symposium aims to answer some of these questions with respect to certain exhibitions that the speakers have been involved in.The Chennai Photo Biennale will be held from February 26 to March 13. For details, visitChennaiphotobiennale.com.Follow@ARTINFOIndia
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