ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
SANJAY BHATTACHARYYA
Born 1958, in Kolkata
Education
Diploma in Fine Arts from the Government College of Arts & Crafts Calcutta
A graduate of the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, Sanjay Bhattacharya did a brief stint with advertising agencies in Kolkata. Following his move to Delhi, he worked for a short while as a freelance
designer before deciding to devote all his time to his art.
Sanjay has exhibited his work several group and solo shows in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and other Indian cities. He has also been part of exhibitions in art galleries abroad including the Bose Pacia Modern, USA. Notable among his exhibitions is the exhibition of portraits on Rajiv Gandhi, Landscape of a Man, which was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi in 1994.
Sanjay has also been a part of several national and international art events and workshops, and enjoys
collaborating with musicians and other artists. Among the many awards he has received, the second
international Asian-European Art Biennale at Ankara, Turkey in 1988 and two AIFACS awards in 1993
and 98, stand out. His work has found its space in many noteworthy public and private collections in
India and overseas. These include the World Bank and the Parliament House in Delhi.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
2009 Poetic Documentary, Aicon Gallery, London
Mirror Images, Gandhar Gallery
2008 Patterns More Patterns, Ganges Art Gallery
Glasscapes at Weavers Studio
To All Whom It May Concern on Installations, Photograph and Video Art, curated by Jayshree Chakravarty, Ganges Art Gallery
2007 Mumbai 8, part of the series 'Showcase', at Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata
2005 The Incredible Moment, an exhibition co-organized by People for Animals and the
Times of India showcasing 200 of India's best photographers, in New Delhi.
SANJEET CHOWDHURY
Born 1972, Kolkata
Education
University, Kolkata, India
Lives and works in Kolkata, India
Sanjeet Chowdhury started taking photographs during his college days in Kolkata in the late 1980s. A filmmaker by profession, he shoots on black & white film. Sanjeet's involvement with photography, however, goes beyond taking pictures. He is a collector of albumen and silver gelatin prints, glass negatives and Daguerreotype plates. His other interests include collecting 19th and 20th century Indian prints (lithographs and oleographs), which were exhibited at the Birla Academies of Art and Culture, Kolkata and Mumbai, in 2006. Sanjeet has also been making video art since 2001. His films have been screened at various international festivals including an international conference on 'Violence, Memory and Mutual Understanding' in Tel Aviv; the Indo-American Film Screenings at Freer Art Gallery, Washington; 'Transmediale', an international media and art festival in Berlin; and various film festivals across India. He is based in Kolkata, and works out of Kolkata and Mumbai.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
2009 Mirror Image, Jamini Roy Hall, Kolkata
2008 Patterns, Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata
Group show: installations, photographs, video art, Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata
Glasscapes, Weavers Studio Centre for the Arts, Kolkata
2007 Mumbai 8 (Showcase Series), Goethe-Institute Max Mueller Bhavan, Kolkata.
2005 The Incredible Moment, People for Animals and the Times of India, New Delhi.
The Third Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata
2003 Breakthroughs: New Experimental Films from Asia, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Awards and Participations
2001 Violence, Memory and Mutual Understanding, Tel Aviv
Indo-American Film Screenings, Freer Art Gallery, USA
Transmediale, International Media and Art Festival, Berlin
PRABUDDHA DASGUPTA
Born 1959, in Kolkata
Prabuddha Dasgupta is a self-taught photographer who grew up in the cultural chaos of post-colonial India.
In 1996, Prabuddha Dasgupta broke a taboo by publishing 'Women' (Viking Books), a controversial collection of portraits and nudes of urban Indian women. With that gesture, he reinstated the nude to its rightful place in the Indian cultural discourse; after 200 years of Victorian morality imposed by the British colonialists had almost erased sexuality from artistic expression... in the very home of the Kamasutra.
In the decade that followed, Dasgupta pursued a variety of photographic projects, while unapologetically straddling the two worlds of commissioned and artistic work, bringing to both, a bold, individualistic sensibility that very quickly placed him in the ranks of major photographic talent in the country.
Dasgupta's work has been exhibited internationally, both in solo and group shows, and published in Indian, French, English, Italian and American magazines. His second book 'Ladakh' (Viking Books), a personal exploration of India's frontier wilderness was published in 2000 and his work is included in many books publications including 'Nudi' (Motta Editore, Milan) and 'India Now - New Photographic Visions' (Textuel, Paris). He is also the recipient of many grants and awards, including the Yves Saint Laurent grant for photography in1991, and his work is in the collections of many individuals and institutions, like the Museo Ken Damy, Brescia, Italy, and Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan, Italy.
Currently lives between New Delhi and Goa.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007 Longing, Bodhi Art, New York
Myth and Memory, Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan
2006 Myth and Memory, Visual Arts Gallery and Bodhi Art, New Delhi
2005 Photographs, Franco Maria Ricci, Milan
2004 The Erotic Landscape, NAP/Photo Biennale, Brescia
2002 Lakshmi, Atelier Degli Artisti, Photo Biennale, Brescia
Ladakh, Le Cashmerien, Paris
2000 Indian Women, Museo Ken Damy, Brescia
In Every Grain of Sand, Waterman's Art Centre, London
In Every Grain of Sand, Piramal Gallery, Mumbai
1999 In Every Grain of Sand, Vis-aVis Gallery, New Delhi
1993 Nudes and other Photographs, Piramal Gallery, Centre For Photography as Art, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
2008 Click! Contemporary Photography in India, Vadehra Art Gallery, Delhi/London
2007 Lens, Bodhi Art, Singapore
What Wears Us, Matthieu Foss Gallery, Mumbai
Act of Faith, Noorderlicht Photo Festival
2005 The Incredible Moment, Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi
2004 L Oriente Incontra L'Occidente, Forum De Assago, Milan
Corpo a Corpo, Galleria Stefano Forni, Bologna
2003 World Press Photo, Max Mueller Gallery, New Delhi
JATINDER MARWAHA
Educated in architectural design in India and visual communications in USA, Jatinder worked internationally for over 15 years in photography with several world media organizations including the Associated Press and Reuters. Initially self-taught in photography, Jatinder then apprenticed with a series of gurus to refine his skills. Jatinder's work is self-constrained by authenticity and realism, emphasizing craftsmanship as the gate to expression. Jatinder now divides his time between New Delhi, London and New York working also as a lighting consultant, architectural conservationist and in education.
Selected Group Shows
2009 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
HUMA MULJI
Born 1970, Karachi, Pakistan
Education
Bachelors in Fine Art from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in 1995
Currently an MFA candidate at Donau-Universität Krems, Austria
Huma Mulji's work has moved more and more towards looking at the absurdities of a post-colonial society in transition, taking on board the visual and cultural overlaps of language, image and taste that create the most fantastic collisions. She describes the time we live in as moving at a remarkable speed and in regard to Pakistan Mulji refers to the experience of 'living 200 years in the past and 30 years in the future all at once'. She is interested in looking at this phenomenon with humor, to recognize the irony of it, formally and conceptually. Rather than dwell on and follow existing theoretical issues of living and working in a post-colonial nation, and applying those stagnant studies to a lived existence she examines the pace of cultural change through her art work.
Mulji's participation in recent selected exhibitions includes in 2009 "Hanging Fire: Contemporary Art from Pakistan, at Asia Society, NY, in 2008, Half-Life, at the Zahoor ul Akhlaq Gallery, Lahore, and Farewell to Post Colonialism, Third Guangzhou Triennial, Guangdong Museum of Art, China; Desperately Seeking Paradise, Pakistan Pavilion, ART DUBAI, UAE and Arabian Delight, Rohtas Gallery, Lahore.
Mulji currently lives in Lahore, and teaches at the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University.
Current or Upcoming Exhibitions
2010 Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Year of Photography from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Whitechapel Gallery, London/Fotomuseum Winterthur
The Empire Strikes Back, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Resemble Reassemble, Devi Art Foundation, New Delhi, India
Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York, USA
2009 Hanging Fire: Contemporary Art from Pakistan, Asia Society Museum, New York, USA
Selected Past Exhibitions
2009 High Rise, Elementa Gallery, Dubai, UAE
Half Life, Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq Gallery, NCA, Lahore
2008 6 Degrees of Separation: Chaos or congruence, Anant Gallery, New Delhi, India
Farewell to Post Colonialism, Third Guangzhou Triennial, Guangdong Museum of Art, China
Desperately Seeking Paradise, Pakistan Pavilion, ART DUBAI, UAE
Arabian Delight, Rohtas Gallery, Lahore
2007 Moving Ahead, Sculpture in Pakistan, NAG, Islamabad
Contemporary Art from Pakistan, Thomas Erben Gallery, New York, USA
Destination Asia: Non-strict correspondence, by Indian and Pakistani artists, Soros Center for Contemporary Art-Almaty, Kazikhistan
2006 256 Shades, V.M. Art Gallery, Karachi
Sub-Contingent, Fondazionne Sandretto Re Rauburg, Torino, Italy
Flights of Fancy, Royaat Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan
2005 ScopeLondon, London UK
Beyond Borders, Art from Pakistan, NGMA, Mumbai, India
Sirf Tum, Rohtas Gallery, Lahore
2004 Along the X Axis, Exhibition of Digital Art, Delhi, India
SARAH SINGH
Born 1971, Punjab, India
Education
Maryland Institute, College of Art
East Carolina University
Parsons New School of Design
Photographer, Filmmaker, and Artist Sarah Singh was born to the Royal family of Patiala, Punjab, India, and has lived most of her life in the US. For the last 6 years, she has worked in the film industry for MTV, Showtime, History Channel and on independent feature films. Her award-winning film THE SKY BELOW has screened across the world from Santa Barbara to Singapore. Most recently she presented her film in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Pakistan High Commission, and Oxford University. Her emphasis on crafting strong cinematographic visuals in film stems from a more than 25-year dedication to working with still photography. Sarah has held solo and group exhibits of her fine art both in India and the US. Much of the work is in private collections. She is currently in production on a coffee table book.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
MANISH SWARUP
Born 1968, in Bhopal
Manish Swarup is an accredited photo-journalist, working with the Associated Press, New Delhi. He has covered war-torn Iraq and traveled to post-war Kosovo in Yugoslavia and Kabul, Afghanistan. Swarup has extensively covered conflict zones in South Asia, and he covered the 2004 tsunami devastation from Port Blair, India. Some of his other work within India includes coverage of militancy in Kashmir, the earthquake in Gujarat, floods in Orissa, the Kumbh Mela and Indian politics. He also has built a photo document of masters of classical Indian music. Swarup won the Best Photograph Award on the Kargil war from the Government of India, a second prize from the International Committee of Red Cross for best picture depicting Human Dignity In War, and several prizes and awards for his 1997 photographs on 50 years of Indian Independence. In May 2004, he held a solo exhibition of his photographs at the Shridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi, and has since contributed to several photography volumes on India. Swarup lives and works in New Delhi.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
Awards
2007 Invited to China to receive two awards won in China's International Photo Contest (CHIP). First Prize, Daily Life, Second Prize, Art & Culture and a honorable mention in Sports category
2005 Honorable mention under Sports category in the Mumbai Press Photo Contest organized by the Mumbai Press Club
Second Prize in People in the News category in Mumbai Press Photo Contest organized by the Mumbai Press Club
First Prize, Best Photo Story under Arts and Entertainment category in Mumbai Press Photo Contest organized by the Mumbai Press Club
2004 Solo exhibition of photographs at Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
2001 First prize from Press Institute of India for photograph depicting "Fire at Yamuna Pushta"
2000 Second prize in the National Photo Contest sponsored by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for photograph on 50 years of Indian Independence
Second Prize from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) for best picture depicting Human Dignity In War
1999 First Prize for Best photograph on Kargil war from Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India
Publications
Edited and contributed photographs for two books:
India Matters: A book on Indian personalities by Shyam Goenka
Indian Maestros: A book on Indian Artistes and Musicians by Alka Raghuvanshi
DARSHANA VORA
Born in Mumbai, India
Education
Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai
University of Hertfordshire, UK
Darshana Vora's work addresses the dynamics of site and space in relation to physical and emotional states of self. Working across a range of media, her objects and installations create situations that engage one in a playful but contemplative way. Darshana Vora studied at Sir JJ College of Architecture, Mumbai and the University of Hertfordshire, UK. She has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in India and internationally. She lives and works in London.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2008 Walks in Silence, Novas Contemporary Urban Centre, London Festival of Architecture
2002 Vision Repositories and Holes, Lakeeren art gallery, Mumbai
2001 Horizon II, 200 Gertrude Street Studios, Melbourne, Australia
1999 Engaging the NOWHERE, The British Council Gallery, Mumbai
Solid Objects, Performance with artist's video, The British Council Gallery, Mumbai
1997 Nothing Blue About It', The British Council Gallery, Mumbai
Movement 1, 2 and 3, Site Specific Works in Heritage Sites, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 Home and the World, Aicon Gallery, New York
2009 Underground City, DIVUS unit 30, London, UK
The Other (Indian) Story, Mumbai, India
2008 Ghost, Bethnal Green Church, London
Multifidelity, Theatre-collaboration with Christopher Engdahl, Laban, UK
Fields of Detail – Dance Installation, Collaboration with Melita Spahic, London/Croatia
Visions in the Nunnery, 2008, Bow Arts Trust, UK
2007 Blowing Up, Clerkenwell Film Festival, London
Fields of Detail – Dance Installation, Place for Dance, London
2006 Max 10 video festival, Café Gallery, London, UK
Rites/ Rights/Rewrites – Women's video art from India, Rutgers University, USA
Node L, Bow arts Trust, UK
2005 The Haunting, Manchester, UK
Art in Romnney Marsh, UK
Simultan 100 seconds, Video Festival in Timosara
The Art of Permanence and Change, Sydenham Woods, Forest Hill, UK
Grounds for Designs, Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, UK
Rites/ Rights/Rewrites – Women's Video Art from India, Duke University, USA
2004 13 Apparitions, Eden Restaurant, Harrow, UK
The Secret Garden, Outdoor Group Exhibition, UK
What's that in the woods?, Millfield House, Edmonton
Return to sender, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
2003 De Inrichting, Group Exhibition in Heiloo, Amsterdam
Group Exhibition, Sakshi Gallery, India
Peace Taxi, SAVAC, Toronto
MoDA Outsized, Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture, UK.
2002 10th Anniversary Show, Sakshi Gallery, New Delhi, India
City Boogie Woogie, Dresden, Germany
Camouflage, The Nehru Centre, London
2000 Ideas and Images, National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, India
Anonymously Yours, Lakeeren Art Gallery/British Council Gallery, Mumbai, India
The Mumbai Metaphor, The Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
Kala Ghoda – A Meeting Place, Gallery Chemould
1999 Young Artists 1999, National Gallery of Modern Art
Wallpaper, Lakeeren Art Gallery at the Kala Ghoda Art Festival
1998 Miniature Format Show 3, Sans Tache Art Gallery
Awards
2001 Unesco – Aschberg Bursaries for Artists. Artist's residency and exhibition
2000 Gertrude Street Studios, Melbourne, Australia, Jan – March 2001