Reimagining Cinema: A Unique Multidisciplinary Exhibition

New Delhi, a groundbreaking multidisciplinary exhibition centered around three experimental films by filmmaker Purandar Chaudhuri is set to challenge traditional cinema viewing within a gallery context.

Entitled "A Voyage to Permanence," the exhibition, curated by Jooby Yohannan and art historian Johny ML, will commence on March 10 at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre. This event will feature film screenings, alternative photographic prints, a live installation-performance, and a book release, fostering a rich dialogue between moving images, still images, sound, text, and performance.

At the heart of the exhibition are Chaudhuri's films: "Dhushor," "Tremors," and "Impressions of Mingling," which explore themes of memory, migration, erasure, and survival through a contemplative visual language.

Johny ML, in his curatorial note, expressed that "Purandar's films transcend mere commentary on migration and self-degeneration; they are aesthetic reflections that evoke traditional analogue filmmaking while embracing digital capabilities. This cinematic language oscillates between abstraction and figuration, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary visual aesthetics through film."

The exhibition promises immersive viewing experiences, enhanced by cutting-edge audio-visual design, encouraging audiences to engage with these works as aesthetic meditations rather than conventional narratives.

Chaudhuri describes his creative process as an endeavor to "reimagine the grammar of cinema," stating, "My films serve as memory catchers, requiring a unique sensibility to perceive their essence. Each film pays homage to human exodus and survival, exploring the transformation of the human body into labor through a lens of harsh reality."

Complementing the screenings will be alternative photographic prints by Prakash Braggs, expanding the visual language of the films into tactile, material forms.

A panel discussion on "The Shifting Focus of Film Making and Photography" will also take place during the exhibition.

On March 11, a live installation-performance by Dr. Bhoominathan, a seasoned actor and director at the National School of Drama, will respond to and reinterpret the cinematic universe of Chaudhuri's works.

The exhibition will conclude on March 14.