CHENNAI.- The third edition of Chennai Photo Biennale titled ‘Maps of Disquiet’, officially launched on 9th December 2021. The Biennale is open to viewers and the public until 6 February 2022 with exhibitions in both physical and virtual forms showcasing works by artists from across the world. Alongside the virtual exhibitions, physical exhibitions are showcased at public spaces across the city of Chennai which include Forum Art Gallery, Ashvita's Gallery, Roja Muthiah Research Library and Madras Literary Society along with hybrid screenings of video works at Goethe-Institut, Chennai. The biennale’s third edition is curated by Arko Datto, Bhooma Padmanabhan, Boaz Levin and Kerstin Meincke who explore the theme ‘Maps of Disquiet’ through the sub themes of labour, urban imaginaries, the commons, economic and migratory flows, archaeology and mining.

The virtual and physical exhibitions explore exemplary works by artists from around the globe, their works reflect on the exigencies of our times: resisting majoritarian impositions, ecological collapse, and technological dystopias by reclaiming pluralities of thought, voices, and art; building new networks of solidarity and care. The artists participating in the biennale include Amitesh Grover, Anaïs Tondeur, Andreas Langfeld, Sarabhi Ravichandran, Arthur Crestani, Babu Eshwar Prasad, Carolina Caycedo, Gauri Gill, Harun Farocki, Hito Steyerl, James P Tylor, Jane Jin Kaisen, Katja Stuke, Oliver Sieber, Katrin Koenning, Lisa Rave, Michael Hanna, Mohini Chandra, Nico Joana Weber, Parvathi Nayar, Nayantara Nayar, Patrick Pound, Rohini Devasher, Rohit Saha, Rory Pilgrim, Ruth Patir, Sanchayan Ghosh, Saranraj, Senthil Kumaran, Siva Sai Jeevanantham, Soumya Sankar Bose, Sridhar Balasubramanium, Susanne Kriemann, Tobias Zielony, Vamika Jain, Vasudha Thozhur and Yuvan Aves.

Amongst the artists is Mohini Chandra, whose work deals with articulations of identity and globalized spaces, and the role of the photograph in relation to memory and migration. On the other hand, the works of Sridhar Balasubramanium focuses on the body, its form and movement, ritual in folk ceremonies and imagination.




“CPB Edition 3 is a labour of love, born from a desire to bring photographic art to the public. We have always looked to challenge our visitors and offer them fresh perspectives on the world around them and the medium of photography. This third edition marks a new chapter, curated by an international 4-member curatorial team from India and Germany, the Maps of Disquiet is a recognition of our collective struggles as humanity shared by over 50 artists and contributors from 12 countries”. - Varun Gupta, Director of the Biennale

The opening week will include a series of initiatives that begin with an in-person curatorial tour at the Roja Muthiah Research Library scheduled on 9 December. Followed by the first curatorial tour, an in-person curatorial tour will be conducted at Ashvita’s Art Gallery and Forum Art Gallery on 10th and 11th December respectively. On 11th December Saturday, Vasudha Thozhur, Katja Stuke & Oliver Sieber, Nico Joana Weber, Parvathi Nayar & Nayantara Nayar, Lisa Rave, Ruth Patir, Harun Farocki, Mohini Chandra, Rohini Devasher, Rory Pilgrim and Jane Jin Kaisen will be screening their works at Goethe-Institut. In addition, Bhooma Padmanabhan, co-curator of the biennale will be in discussion with Jane Kin Kaisen on 11 December at the Goethe Institut/ MMB Chennai and via Zoom. Moreover, a series of artist talks are scheduled for the forthcoming months.

In its third edition, a key initiative that the Biennale has decided to undertake is the International University Student collaboration and workshop called ‘Urban Imaginaries’ with Anna University, Chennai; University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany and Folkwang University of Arts, Germany to bring together students from Indian and German Universities studying architecture, art history and photography, to work on projects and texts that will be presented in January 2022.

Other highlights of the 60 day biennale include University exchange programs, the second journal launch, a showcase of student work, CPB activity corner and the CPB Photo Awards. In addition, as a small step towards addressing the issue of gender gap in photography and filmmaking, Studio A and CPB Foundation joined hands to start Kanavu Fellowship - a one year long program for women who are yearning to make a difference through their storytelling. This year’s shortlisted fellows include Bhuvaneshwari, Chandini Ramesh, Dhana Sakthi, Madhu Priya and Rekha Vijayashankar whose works are now on display at Dakshinachitra, Tamilnadu for two weeks.