Hope on a tripod

A rare photo show lets you walk away with a beautiful picture if you do your bit for Uttarakhand

What transpired last month in Uttarakhand has left many stranded and devastated. While attempts to provide relief are still in progress, an art exhibition in town aims at contributing to the cause.

Titled, A Brand New Day – Rebuilding Uttarakhand, the exhibition, which opens tomorrow, is an initiative by photo collective Camera Unlimited and Indian August gallery, in collaboration with Goonj, a city-based NGO.

“After the incident, we decided to contribute to the relief work. We won’t sell the artworks; we’ll give them as a token of appreciation to those who come forward to help,” says Ravi Dhingra, one of the organisers.

On display will be works by 30 artists, who have contributed at least two artworks each towards the cause. Some of the participating artists include Shilpi Choudhuri, Ravi Dhingra, Raajan Sharma, Sudip Bhattacharya, Ahmed Firoz and Shivani Punia.

“This will be my second show with the group, and I’m looking forward to be a part of this noble cause. Through my work, I have tried showing a new ray of hope. My images portray the darkness of a night taking over, and then the beginning of a new day,” says Raajan Sharma.

Dhingra will be exhibiting seven photographs; two of his works depict the life that monks lead. “Monks also have aspirations and needs similar to ours, but somehow, we have the impression that people who get associated with any religion, get detached from worldly pleasures,” he says.

Another artist, Shilpi Choudhuri, will be displaying two abstract pictures, one of Jantar Mantar and the other of Qutub Minar. “These pictures are a testimony to how stunningly rich the Capital is,” she shares.

Catch it live
What: A Brand New Day— Rebuilding Uttarakhand
When: July 20 — August 5
Timings: 11am to 8pm
Where: Indian August, N-3, Sector 18, Noida
Nearest Metro Station: Sector 18, Noida, on the Blue Line