When photography first originated as a medium, it was limited to family portraitures that emerged as a performance for the camera. But even in the early years when cameras were't user-friendly, artists showed an interest towards a more spontaneous image-making which came from documenting the hustle-bustle of the streets. Photographers like Charles Negre and eventually Eugene Atget & Henri Cartier Bresson paved the way street photography as an artform. Here at home Raghubir Singh was working with colour at a time when B&W was king. He was the once that developed the visual culture of India through a native's lens.
Homegrown photographers have since discovered and explored their own gaze that has come to define their styles. Diving deeper into the everyday lives of people in the country, artists have found a way to romanticize how we perceive ourselves. This technique of catching life by fleeting moments has become an artform in itself disguised as street photography. The newly-opened Alum Studios in Andheri, aims to celebrate the same in their debut exhibition titled 'The Art Lobby'.
The studio space aims to host art and photography projects as well as video installations. For the first edition of The Art Lobby, the studio is hosting the works of 5 Indian photographers - Harsh Jani, Hunar Daga, Nelson Viji, Viraj Nayar & Yash Sheth on September 28. The theme of the exhibition is 'capturing the simple, happy moments of everyday life across India'. Apart from the photographs, the evening will also feature a video installation by Indra Joshi, Artist Talk by Viraj Nayar & Yash Shethi, Analog film rolls & merchandise by Zhenwei Film Lab and a Photobook reading corner by Editions JOJO.
Dedicated to the visual culture being cultivated by the image curators and photographers of our times, the photo exhibitions is a renewed celebration of candid traditions of street photography.
Follow Alum Studios here to RSVP for the exhibition.
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