Events and
Activities

“India through the lens” organised in collaboration with the TASVEER foundation opens at the Bahrain National Museum on September 16, 2014. The exhibition portrays India through the contrasting oeuvres of four photographers - Jyotti Bhatt, T.S. Saytan,  Maimouna Guerresi and Karen Knorr. The 20th century work of Jyotti Batt and TS Satyan communicates the life of the Indian populous post independence - from street scenes to historic events, from the common man to portraits of prominent figures. The 21st century work of Karen Knorr and Maimouna Guerresi delves deeper than this documentary representation of the country, by using staged events, manipulations and constructions to explore the religious, cultural and visual heritage of India, showing how this is communicated in the visual arts in the present day.

This exhibition demonstrates the rich history of photography in India and explores the shift in representation from the 20th century to today in how the camera has been used to respond and comment on the country’s unique cultural and aesthetic identity.