The Hindu : New Delhi News : An enriching tryst with nature

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Tuesday, Jan 06, 2009
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An enriching tryst with nature

Madhur Tankha

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Visual treat: A visitor on Monday viewing photos by artists Debatosh Sengupta and Chandralekha Sengupta on display at AIFACS gallery in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Chitra Kala Sangam is hosting two solo photo-exhibitions by a husband-wife duo at the All-India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) gallery here that bring alive the beauty of Mother Earth.

While “Planet Earth” is showcasing a collection of 75 photographs by eminent photographer Debatosh Sengupta, “Dekha” focusing on nature is by woman photo artist Chandralekha Sengupta. The weeklong exhibitions conclude this Wednesday.

Pointing out that the artistic pictures are from his recent works, Debatosh says the pictures captured by him on camera becalm the mind of discerning art lovers. “Since childhood I have been passionate about photography and loved to express my creativity. My ongoing exhibition is the most authentic documentation on Earth that is facing the onslaught of global warming.”

Expressing concern over the danger posed by global warming, Debatosh says: “Seven years ago a cyclone devastated Orissa. One of my pictures depicts the devastation in the coastal State. Somehow we need to protect Mother Earth from global warming. The burgeoning population and misuse of nature are the two factors leading to global warming.”

Debatosh says he has chosen Earth as the theme of his exhibition because it is the largest terrestrial planet in the solar system. “Despite challenges posed to Earth, I didn’t want to show its negative side but predominantly its aesthetic beauty. We should be proud that India is one of the oldest civilizations and the largest secular country. It is decorated with beautiful mountains and outlined with oceans. The ravines, sand dunes and the forests with their flora and fauna enhance its natural splendour.”

Chandralekha says she has meticulously observed people, mountains, deserts and trees to come out with her second solo exhibition in Delhi. One of her black-and-white pictures is of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at India Gate in 1983.

“Life can be defined as ‘to witness’ and that is why I have named my exhibition as ‘Dekha’. It is a compilation of my first solo exhibition of 50 photographic visions in Kolkata,” says Chandralekha.

Stating that she was brought up in an environment of photography, Chandralekha says her maternal uncles practised photography during 1940s and 1950s. “Their artistic photographic approach on nature and daily life induced me to pursue creative photography. My mother who spent her childhood at Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s ashram in Santiniketan taught me to appreciate and understand art and culture.”

Starting her career in photojournalism in 1982, she shifted to archival work and library and information science. She worked as assistant librarian at the Margaret Cousin Memorial Library and as an archivist in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

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