A Moment In Time brings together a suite of exquisite and evocative images of Abhishek Dasgupta, Pallon Daruwala, Prashant Godbole and Subrata Biswas. For decades, these photo artists, through their art, have enticed and motivated the viewer to celebrate and contemplate on the ever-changing moods and relationships between man, nature and the human condition. This show collates a set of significant and inspired body of work of each of these artists as they have captured vignettes of contemporary life, focusing on the essence and experience of a moment in time. Their images are consequently expressive and eloquent, lyrical and mystical, soulful and seductive. In grappling with and grasping astonishing moments often seen in the most familiar and unremarkable situations of daily life, the photographers have offered to us glimpses of our external world. The images in the show which emanate out of a thoughtful study of man and nature throw light on our own interior landscapes as well; they also provide openings to think about ourselves in a
deeper way.

The images created by Abhishek Dasgupta are at once real and abstract; physical and carnal. They hint at aspects of brilliant action, subtle dazzle as well as dignified and measured demolition. The body, the flesh, the gestures and movements of the wrestlers captured through momentary tracks and traces confirm their existence through time and space.  Elements of mysterious charm and disquieting calm define Abhishek’s visual vocabulary. 

In a suite of images pictured on an isolated beach, Pallon Daruwala captures the passage of time and movement of tide in a uniquely personal style and manner.  In his expert hands, the poetic scene echoes a visual depth and metaphysical resolve. Motivated by minimalism and allegorical abstraction, a gentle mood of reflection and meditation rather than loneliness and melancholy is put forward. The softness of the waves, stillness of the wind and ruggedness of the primordial rocks come together magically to provide an experience – which is both sensual and spiritual – through an expanded moment in time.

Prashant Godbole’s images clearly demonstrate a commitment to the decisive moment.  His most important weapon is timing, which he employs precisely and emphatically to capture the essence of the moment; and to create a set of engaging visual stories.  A keen observer of anything and everything around him, Prashant finds meaning and soul in the most ordinary of things.   For one who believes that ‘street photography is like holding a mirror to society’, and ‘the beauty of photography is that one can make images everywhere’, Prashant’s approach to art is strikingly unpretentious and straight forward.

Subrata Biswas follows the humanist tradition in his approach to photography.  Travelling and living with indigenous people in faraway lands; and keenly observing their life stories from close quarters, he lovingly documents their unconditional commitment to art, which they create in the most natural and unaffected manner, employing the most basic raw materials like mud, rice powder, flour, etc.  Subrata’s images capture evocative moments of the lives of these tribal artists in far-flung villages; and the vibrant conventions of mural painting in their day-to-day chores and struggles, rituals and revelries. 

GIRIDHAR KHASNIS, Curator

A B O U T   T H E   A R T I S T S   / C U R A T O R

A B H I S H E K   D A S G U P T A  has maintained a consistent focus on conceptual photography. His work has been included in group exhibitions in Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Seoul, as well as closer to home in Bangalore, Kolkata and New Delhi. 

Abhishek’s recent venture titled SWEET SMELL OF THE COSM – a two-person exhibit along with his wife Sohini Dasgupta – was set in a 130-year old heritage bungalow in Fort Kochi as a collateral project of the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2016-17.  Abhishek lives and works in Bengaluru.                                                         

P A L L O N   D A R U W A L A straddles the world of commercial and fine art photography with equal passion and facility.  Alumnus of the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, Pallon’s work has been exhibited widely and featured in prestigious publications. Being on its technical panel of photographers, he retains a special relationship with Epson; and is the only fine art print master in the country with the official designation of ‘STYLUS PRO’. In 2013, he was featured in a book titled ‘IMPORTANT WORLD ARTISTS’ published in California. Pallon lives and works in Bengaluru.

P R A S H A N T   G O D B O L E is an award-winning professional in the field of advertising for over 25 years. A graduate from Mumbai’s J J School of Art, he is currently the Creative Head and Founder of IDEAS@WORK. Prashant has been a long-time street photographer capturing the unique sights, sounds and moods of a burgeoning metropolis. Among others, he has won an award at 2006 CANNES LIONS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY.  In November 2016, his fundraising exhibition of photographs #SHATTEREDNOTBROKEN commemorated the eighth anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks.  Prashant lives and works in Mumbai.

S U B R A T A   B I S W A S  is an independent visual storyteller. He holds an engineering degree in Information Technology but pursues, by choice, a full-time career in photography and painting.  His works focusing on lesser reported issues, have been published widely in India and abroad; they have featured in Photo Festivals in Delhi; Goa; Hyderabad; Chennai; Pondicherry; and Cambodia. Winner of MEDIA FOUNDATION AWARD 2014; Fellowship of Centre for Science and Environment (2015); and ALFRED FRIED PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD, 2015, Subrata lives and works in Kolkata. 

G I R I D H A R   K H A S N I S  is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer, columnist and curator. More than nine hundred pieces of his writing on art, literature and world cinema have appeared in newspapers and magazines including Deccan Herald, The Hindu, The Week, and Swagat. Among the art shows he has curated are: THE ROOT OF EVERYTHING (sixty drawings /forty artists); MOMENT, INTERCEPTED (a two-person show); THE OPEN CAGE: HOMAGE TO FRANCIS BACON (a four-man show); A TWIST IN THE TAIL (12 artists); MY CITY (6 artists); and INTIMATE LINES (show in Pondicherry/Bengaluru). He has been on the jury of TASVEER-TOTO PHOTO-AWARDS for 2013 and 2014.