Habitat Photosphere: Capturing earth's real picture

'Habitat Photosphere', a multi-dimensional photography festival curated by art historian Dr Alka Pande, will be back in a bigger and a far more inclusive avatar at India Habitat Centre, from February 18 – March 18, 2019.

Focussing on the theme of BHU (earth) – the exhibition is an initiative towards environmental sensitisation and cultural sustainability through the medium of photography. The mainstay of the festival will be photography-based works by the four awardees of the Photosphere Fellowship – Juhi Saklani (New Delhi), Thulasi Kakkat (Kochi), Zishaan A Latif (Mumbai) and Syed Adnan Ahmed (Ajmer) who have worked on various themes connected to the sustainable environment. They have been mentored by an eminent panel of photographers including Aditya Arya, Bandeep Singh, Parthiv Shah, and Prabir Purkayastha respectively. The festival will also showcase photographic works by the mentors themselves.

Dr Alka Pande, Artistic Director of the show feels that the goddess Bhu Devi (earth) has been an integral part of the mythology and stories of India, as well as its geography since the very beginning. It is by weaving the complex mythology that surrounds the elemental narrative of the Earth, we will create a structure between the four projects of our four awardees.

Sunit Tandon, Director, India Habitat Centre congratulates the curator for the second edition of 'Photosphere' and says that the Centre is delighted to present another edition of our major, month-long Photosphere Festival with a new emphasis on inclusivity and cultural sustainability, along with the promotion of promising photographers and a host of exciting exhibitions and activities that will be of great interest to a wide section of the public.

Juhi Saklani, who has worked on the project related to Human/Nature feels that the impact of 'humans' separating themselves from the 'nature' can be seen in the dramatic climate changes. By showcasing images which were put together against a background of regular headlines about the loss of trees in thousands, for buildings, roads, highways, river interlinking, and more, the artist will attempt to spread the message of importance of nature in human life.

In Syed Adnan Ahmed's project on rooster fights titled 'Murgh Baazi', a strong primal, earthy energy depicted through and through; in the way the roosters are maintained in a condition of aggression, the thirst for power and conquest shining through them to have a fighting chance at winning these matches, can be seen.

'Withering' by Zishaan A Latif, is an endeavour to document the 'drowning state of existence' of the river island of Majuli in Assam. Last but not least, Thulasi Kakkat's work titled 'Lost Wilderness' will document the ritualistic dance of Theyyam at the exhibition.

Apart from the above, parallel exhibitions on the theme of sustainability by Beatrice de Fays (French artist), Miguel Angel Garcia (Spanish artist), Katja Loher (Swiss artist), John Gollings (Australian artist) will also be held.