Art and Conservation Unite at India Art Fair 2026 with Groundbreaking Photography Exhibition
In a landmark collaboration, the Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation (CPB) and WWF-India have joined forces for the first time at the prestigious India Art Fair 2026. Their joint initiative, titled In Dialogue with Nature, represents a powerful fusion of artistic expression and environmental advocacy, bringing photography to the forefront of conservation discourse.
A Shared Vision for Art and Ecology
This compelling photography-led exhibition masterfully bridges the worlds of art and conservation, creating a shared frame that challenges traditional boundaries. Supported by prominent patrons Dr. Pheroza J Godrej and Tarana Sawhney, the project features exclusive limited-edition works from twenty distinguished artists across India. This presentation stands as a profound act of solidarity, with proceeds directly supporting WWF-India's vital conservation initiatives and CPB's innovative education programmes.
In Dialogue with Nature delves into the intricate, often precarious relationship between humanity, wildlife, and natural landscapes. Through intimate photographic encounters, quiet observational studies, and layered visual narratives, the exhibition invites viewers to reconceptualize nature—not as mere background scenery, but as a living, breathing, interdependent presence that is continuously shaped by human action while simultaneously shaping human existence.
Photography as a Catalyst for Understanding and Change
Reflecting on this significant collaboration, Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej and Tarana Sawhney emphasized photography's unique capacity to reveal hidden truths. "When we engage with a photograph, we witness a captured moment, but what frequently remains unseen are the underlying forces—place, people, environment, memory," they noted. "For both of us, photography transcends mere artistic expression; it serves as a profound methodology for understanding our relationship with the world and with each other. This fundamental belief forms the very heart of this partnership between Chennai Photo Biennale and WWF-India."
They further elaborated, "During this era of accelerating ecological transformation, bringing art and conservation into the same conceptual frame feels not just important, but essential. This project actively invites both reflection and concrete action—supporting artistic communities, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and reaffirming the transformative power of images to cultivate empathy, responsibility, and enduring stewardship."
Premier Showcase Featuring India's Finest Photographic Talent
Premiering at Booth N04 within the India Art Fair, the exhibition strategically positions photography as a catalyst for both contemplation and mobilization, creating vital space for deeper public engagement with the natural world while generating crucial support for planetary health. The featured artists represent a diverse geographical and stylistic spectrum of Indian photography, including:
- Alisha Vasudev (Maharashtra)
- Anshul Bandhiwal (Jaipur - Chennai)
- Arati Kumar-Rao (Karnataka)
- Brihat Rai (Kalimpong, West Bengal)
- Deepti Asthana (Goa)
- Dhritiman Mukherjee (West Bengal)
- Hari Katragadda (Telangana)
- Indrajit Khambe (Maharashtra-Goa)
- James De Penning
- Kunga Tashi Lepcha (Sikkim)
- Menty Jamir (Delhi-Nagaland)
- Neel Bhattacharjee (West Bengal)
- Sankar Sridhar (New Delhi)
- Sanna Irshad Mattoo (Kashmir)
- Sarosh Lodhi (Maharashtra)
- Senthil Kumaran (Tamil Nadu)
- Shivang Mehta (Haryana)
- Sridhar Balasubramaniyam (Tamil Nadu)
- Vinita Barretto (Goa)
- Zishaan A Latif (New Delhi - Maharashtra)
This unprecedented collaboration between the Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation and WWF-India marks a significant moment in India's cultural and environmental landscape, demonstrating how artistic practice can directly contribute to conservation efforts and public awareness.
