Every family has an album of sepia-toned photographs. These memory-laden pictures are usually tucked away safely in a corner. They tell stories about the past and give youngsters a glimpse into the lifestyle of the previous generations.
If Delhi had a family album it would look a lot like the exhibition that has been put up by the Lalit Kala Akademi titled ‘Spirit of Delhi’ at Rabindra Bhawan on Copernicus Marg.
The exhibition evokes the spirit of Delhi through photographs by Raghu Rai, rare photographs from the Ambedkar University in Delhi, the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi Archives, National Museum, Institute of Heritage Research and Management and Roli books.
There are also paintings from the Lalit Kala Akademi collection and poetry-paintings by Abhay Kumar and Tarshito that bring literary art together with the visual.
A walk around the exhibition shows us the many layers the city has and how society has changed along with the landscape.
According to the organisers, the purpose is not only to exhibit but to revive aspects about Delhi that have fallen into oblivion. By jogging people’s memory with photographs from the pre-colonial, post-colonial and the recent past, many lost aspects of the city can be brought back.
“The new steel and cement buildings in Delhi are a victim of standardisation that exists today, while the heritage structures of Delhi, which use traditional materials, are unique works of art. It is this history of change that the exhibition tries to show,” said Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty, Chairman of the Akademi.
There are also calligraphy workshops that are being conducted till September 21 at the venue.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Satish C. Mehta, Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The show will be on till the September 25 and will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Artists from PunjabVisitors to Rabindra Bhawan should not miss out on the artwork at gallery number eight. It is hosting an exhibition by five artists from Punjab. They are Rajinder Kaur Pasricha, Ambalicka Sood Jacob, Sukhranjan Cheema, Daljit Kaur and Jasmine Kaur. The artists have each through their own style captured aspects about the culture, tradition, poetry and society of rural Punjab. The exhibition titled ‘Five Essentials: Exploring the Space” will be on till September 19.
