A photo exhibition by Emmanuel Lenain, ambassador of France, was inaugurated at the Indian Museum on Thursday, April 26.
‘Seeing You, Seeing Me’ is a collection of more than 50 photographs clicked by Lenain throughout his travels and journeys in and outside the city. “I couldn’t have imagined a better venue for this exhibition than the Indian Museum. This exhibition brings forward the relation between the object and the photographer. I tend to bring out those photos which are self-explainable. I believe if you want to make a good photo you have to connect [with the subject] like the way people stare or look at you. I wanted to give more freedom of interpretation so the photos have no captions,” Lenain said.
The photographs are mostly black and white and depict various subjects
The chief guest for the occasion was C.V. Ananda Bose, governor of West Bengal. “It gives me immense pleasure to be here, where a photographic genius is curated for the enjoyment and appreciation of the city. I see this as an occasion where art is honoured, as the connoisseurs have come together to appreciate the soft power of a nation. This exhibition titled ‘Seeing You, Seeing Me’ is not as simple as it sounds, there is more to it than meets the eye. 'Seeing You, Seeing Me' as the Indian Vedic thought means you and I are the same,” said Bose, while inaugurating the exhibition.
The photographs are mostly black and white and depict various subjects, including architecture, landscape, people, activities, still life and more.
Emmanuel Lenain, ambassador of France with C.V. Ananda Bose
Alka Pande, the curator of the exhibition, said: “I just saw the photographs and what he was doing, how he was photographing, and then we had a conversation. The show is completely his. The conceptual thought is completely his. I react to his photos, that’s my role. When he used to be in doubt about certain things, he would ask me. But with him, you don’t need to curate, he does it all himself.”
The exhibition, being held in collaboration with Basu Foundation, will be open till May 26, from 10 am to 6 pm (Tuesday to Sunday).
The exhibition, being held in collaboration with Basu Foundation, will be open till May 26
“Today is a testament of the close relation between our two nations and highlights the importance of the cultural ties that bind us together. This exhibition explores the relationship between the observer and the observed and how this dynamics has been portrayed through various media overtime, from ancient Indian sculptures to contemporary installations,” Indian Museum director Arijit Dutta Chowdhury said.