Exhibition- observations

I met a very interesting array of people during our exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts in October-November 2016.  We had over 2000 footfalls in the seven days of the exhibition.  The overall feedback received from the visitors was extremely appreciative and encouraging.  My daughter’s talent in art was of course the primary purpose and was universally admired.  We were touched by the appreciation from general visitors and honest reviews and tips received from several artists who dropped by.  But I was surprised to see the response to my exhibition of photographs, which in my mind was a filler and a side show.  Several people told us that they have never ever seen such display of the resplendency of India’s religious fairs and festivals in Kolkata.  Unknown people of all ages spent a good amount of time looking at the photos with great interest and reading the narratives I displayed.  I had organized my photos in three categories- long shots depicting the “Ambience” of the events, close up of the “Faces” depicting moods and expressions of people who come to these events, and the mythical “Naga” ascetics.  I had detailed narrative in separate frames for these categories, explaining my thoughts.  People were seen reading those with rapt attention.  Not being much of an art connoisseur myself, I am familiar with the rapid awkward shuffle across the exhibition floor when someone is disengaged with the depth of content displayed in a gallery.  We had a few of such people too; but majority were unusually glued to the photos and write-ups.  Several of them came up and talked to me, some others left their comments in visitor’s book and few others walked out without sharing their views.  A few of the comments read as follows:

 

• “photographs mesmerize; the captivating visuals transporting the viewer to real India, sans the mask of urban ‘civilization’ that we have got unfortunately used to.  It raises the Shakespearean dilemma in the viewer’s mind- ‘To Be or Not to Be’ like those natural common people in the photographs”
• “photographs make me nostalgic”
• “Been to Allahabad for 6 years but never saw the thing the way the photographer has seen.  Loved it”
• “the starkness of Naga ascetics recorded by his camera is truly mind-blowing and gives rare insight to his acumen as a candid photographer”

Interest of women in the fairs and festivals was particularly striking.  I talked to at least three lady Professors in reputed academic institutions who displayed a deep passion and experience of traveling to these events, and could connect easily with my photos.  Another group of three unknown elderly ladies came and talked to me at length about the events.  A group of poets from suburban areas spent a lot of time talking to me and my daughter.  Foreign tourists were attracted like a magnet to the photos.  Two American teachers from Woodstock International School in Mussourie accompanying a student talked to me about the events at length; visitors from Mexico, Korea and Europe spoke and left appreciative comments. 

The reaction of fellow exhibitors was mixed.  A senior artist and exhibition organizer liked our unit and took us under his wings.  He provided advice and support during the entire duration of our exhibition.  Another artist and organizer in adjacent hall was overwhelmed when I took my friend as a buyer to his hall and he bought one of the exhibits.  The artist told me later that no one wants to expose their buyers and keeps them under wraps.  A young artist came, walked the show and posted snide comments on our flex and visitors book- we took it as a constructive criticism.  Another young boy, exhibiting his vibrant Krishna-Radha theme canvases at another gallery, was mesmerized about one photo of the facial expression of a rustic old pilgrim.  I had casually clicked the photo at Ganga Sagar mela. 
 

It seemed that people could instantly connect with the liveliness and spirituality of the events- an opportunity they do not get easily in Kolkata.  A gentleman, claiming to be a film-maker, wanted to do a documentary on the Naga saints and talked to me at length about the way of life of these saints.  But I could hardly conceal a chuckle when he asking his parting question- “So, all of them are from Nagaland?”  In hindsight though, it was not so funny because the awareness about saintliness and mythology based religious events of India is abysmally low in West Bengal.  The reason for this can be debated, though the fact is undeniable.  The insularity of the Bengali community from all-India happenings may be partly responsible.  Bengal became famous for many reasons- show of religiosity is not one of them.  The socio-political discourse prevalent in the state may be another contributing factor.  The media (both vernacular and English) in Kolkata do not pay any attention to such events.  I have carried back loads of Hindi newspapers from the Simhastha Kumbh Mela’s opening days in Ujjain this year, wherein various facets of the event were the only news from cover to cover.  On same days, there would be passing reference to the event in an inside page in the newspapers of Kolkata.  These events become news here when something unpleasant or untoward happens; such as stampede; disease outbreak or crime.  But when such events happen flawlessly with participation of 10-30 million people at a riverbank, that is not news.  Even if it is the biggest human congregation on earth, as in Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, held once every 12 years in the flood plains of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.  Here, a temporary mega-city is created in four months over an area of 2000 hectares, with 770 km of electricity lines; 22,000 street light points and 130,000 private connections; 550 km of water pipeline; 44,000 toilets; 38 hospitals; 13,000 police personnel in 30 police stations; 18 temporary pontoon bridges over the rivers; 3600 extra buses and 600 special trains operating from four railway stations to transport pilgrims.  This is sheer magic.  A team from Harvard University’s South Asia Institute camped for weeks at Allahabad Kumbh trying to study the science behind this magic.  But it does not pass muster with the editors of West Bengal newspapers or national English dailies.  However, launch ceremony of Indian Premier Cricket League with 8 private club teams is considered significant enough for a leading English daily to devote more than half of newsprint space.  The perspective of television channels is the same.  Therefore, the ignorance of the common man about such events is understandable.  But the ingrained quest for spirituality bubbles up when they come face to face with candid photos of faithfuls, vibrant show of faith by commune of Naga ascetics and the magical ambience of these events.


I was deeply satisfied that my photo exhibition met an unmet need of a part of the population of the city.