For a city that has been in perpetual transition for a decade, with malls and multiplexes dominating its landscape, slowly losing its local and traditional identity, one wonders what it means to be a Bengalurean? Have we ever stopped to think and ponder over how we engage with the city? Portraits of a City , a curated series, brings alive the real Bengaluru in all its glory through stunning images and detailed text. And gives the viewer a framework of what it means to be a Bengalurean.
Presented by the Rangoli-Metro Art Center in association with Native Place, founded by Aliyeh Rizvi, a columnist who writes extensively on the history of Bengaluru, Portraits of a City has on view five Bengaluru-based photographers’ images of heritage buildings, cultural spaces, local people, traditional market places, livelihoods, cuisines and customs — all of which seems to be hidden by a homogenised city, which increasingly caters to the IT sector.
Photographers Aparna Nori, Sameer Raichur, Nirlek Dhulla, emerging photographers Ananth Shayan and Krishna Murthy and mural artist Poornima Sukumar tell stories through their images. Ananth Shayan’s colourful photos of the streets, which hold within them surprises that our ‘urban eyes’ often miss or take for granted, touches a chord. Aparna Nori’s well-composed and eloquent images explores people on the pavement across the city and their livelihood.
Sameer Raichur’s photos draw you into the sights and sounds of places such as Cubbon Park, Kempegowda Tower, Lalbagh Hill and Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, among others. Nirlek Dhulla’s heart-warming photos, on the other hand, highlight the contrast between Bengaluru of the past and the present. He captures the details of Bengaluru that lends a special character.
Krishna Murthy’s images brings to the fore the city’s lesser-known traditional practices and lifestyles. The photos that stand out are of the Garadi Mane, a wrestling gymnasium, where women are not allowed, and of Jamoon Thaata, who is sought after for his jamoons and other delicacies that he sells in his “orange room”, as mentioned in the image, in V.V. Puram’s food street — Thindi Beedhi.
Alongside the images are detailed write-ups on the history of different places of the city, of its people, and its environment.
Every Bengalurean, whether born and raised in the city, or who have been here between 10 and five years, will be able to relate to the exhibition. The exhibition inspires you to observe details of streets and people that we often don’t notice due to our rushed lives. The exhibition requires you to spend time, understanding and absorbing the images and text.
Lending a personal touch to the exhibition is textual anecdotes by Bengalureans.
“Native Place is a year old, but we have been working in this space for four to five years. We document travel, culture and heritage. We want to be an interface between people and places in two ways, through designing information, such as guide books, travel books, maps and curating experiences, through walks and interactions. This exhibition is an interaction for us,” says Aliyeh.
The aim of the photographers was to make the exhibition relatable, which they have achieved judging from the reactions of the viewers. While some have asked questions about images they had no knowledge about, others brought their friends and families along to explain the images. But how deep is the sense of loss among old Bengalureans? “My family has been here since 1834. They were closely associated with the building of Bangalore in an administrative capacity. For old Bengalureans, they have lived through that vision of the building of modern Mysore by the Dewans and Maharaja and Bangalore being a showcase of that vision. The changes are marked by a huge sense of loss and grief. Constant nostalgia and sentimentalising is a way of coping with the loss.” She adds that on the other hand, it is in the details, that the essential character of Bengaluru emerges. “One of the images is of a sugar bowl in Koshy’s. The sugar bowl is synonymous with the Institution.”
Portraits of a City is on view at Vismaya Gallery, Rangoli Metro Art Center, MG Road Boulevard, till June 25, from 11 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. All exhibited images are available on sale. Call: 22969265.
