WORLD IN FOCUS

The Chennai Photo Biennale, showcasing the work of both established and emerging photographers, promotes cultural exchange and artistic collaboration through photography

- NIKITA SAWANT

The Chennai Photo Biennale (CPB) is now in its fourth edition, transforming the city into an artistic paradise from December 20, 2024, to March 16, 2025. The theme for the biennale this time around is Why Photograph? and will be held in public spaces and galleries across Chennai. This edition will see photographers and artists showcasing their work over 16 exhibitions, with multiple discussions, programmes, workshops and screenings adding to the experience.

Varun Gupta, Chennai Photo Biennale director and photographer, shares, “In the first edition, we showcased different types of photography presented through various ideas and concepts. This time, we decided to adopt a different approach by experimenting with a thematic umbrella.” But what was the deciding factor behind the theme? “The theme Why Photograph? was inspired by Dayanita Singh’s work and the hashtag #WhyPhotograph on Instagram, which led to her talk with our co-founder Shuchi Kapoor. Photography has now become a medium for the masses with people creating images multiple times a day without even thinking. We curated this framework with this in mind, which is why the theme made so much sense,” he adds.