Kerala Tourism's Lenscape Photo Exhibition Inaugurated in Ahmedabad, Emphasizing Cultural Connections
Lenscape Kerala, an all-India photography exhibition organized by Kerala Tourism, was officially inaugurated at the Hutheesing Visual Arts Centre in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The event marks the beginning of a traveling showcase that will tour multiple Indian cities over the coming months.
Exhibition Details and Travel Schedule
Planned as a mobile exhibition, Lenscape Kerala will journey through several metropolitan centers across India. The itinerary includes stops in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, with the final presentation scheduled in Surat by the end of March. The Ahmedabad edition of the exhibition will be open for public viewing until February 5, offering residents and visitors a unique visual experience.
Inauguration by Mallika Sarabhai
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mallika Sarabhai, the renowned classical dancer and Chancellor of Kerala Kalamandalam, a deemed-to-be university dedicated to art and culture. During her address, Sarabhai reflected on the artistic elements of photography, stating, "When you look at a photograph, what is it that draws you in? I think kinetic energy, light and shade and three dimensions. In dance photography, whether it's static or whether it's about to move, if you can capture that feeling when it's about to jump, I think then you have succeeded."
Cultural and Economic Significance
Kerala's Tourism Minister, P A Mohamed Riyas, highlighted the importance of launching the exhibition in Ahmedabad. In a message, he emphasized, "Gujarat and Kerala have strong cultural and economic connections, and visitors from the western states constitute a major segment of tourists to the state." This statement underscores the strategic choice of Ahmedabad as the starting point, aiming to strengthen tourism ties between the two regions.
Artistic Approach and Curatorial Vision
The exhibition features 100 photographs captured during a five-day assignment across Kerala in November and December of the previous year. These images span diverse themes including nature, wildlife, heritage, rural and coastal life, architecture, festivals, and spirituality. Curated by art critic and curator Uma Nair, the project prioritizes artistic freedom, allowing each photographer to interpret Kerala through their unique visual sensibilities.
Within this curatorial framework, photographers were encouraged to maintain their individual styles rather than conforming to a uniform narrative. This approach results in a rich tapestry of perspectives that goes beyond traditional tourism promotion.
Featured Photographers and Their Perspectives
The exhibition showcases works by ten photographers from across India:
- Aishwarya Sridhar
- Amit Pasricha
- H Satish
- Kounteya Sinha
- Manoj Arora
- Natasha Kartar Hemrajani
- Saibal Das
- Saurabh Chatterjee
- Shivang Mehta
- Umesh Gogna
Umesh Gogna, a photographer specializing in landscape, travel, and astrophotography, shared his creative process. He mentioned avoiding prior research to prevent preconceived ideas, explaining, "If I see other work before shooting, it creates a preconceived idea. I prefer to reach a place, see what connects with me, then take photos." He added that the diversity of backgrounds among the photographers contributed to the exhibition's varied visual character, noting, "Everyone came from a different genre. That's why the output looks so different. It doesn't feel like tourism is being sold. Each photographer's signature is visible."
This exhibition not only promotes Kerala as a tourist destination but also celebrates the artistic interpretations of its landscapes and culture, fostering a deeper appreciation through photography.
