History comes alive
Take a peek into the customs of the Kutchi Memon community of the ’50s to the ’70s
Alady in the 1950s was given a camera. The result of those encounters will see the light of the day thanks to her great grandson. Twenty-year-oldNihaal Faizal , student of the city-based Shrishti School of Art , Design and Technology, is proud to have been able to curate the photographs taken by Haleema Hashim as part of a collateral project for the upcoming Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014. He has named the show Ummijaan: Making Visible A World Within, in honour of Haleema.
In 1950,Ummi Jaan , as Faizal calls his 87-year-old great grandmother, was enthralled by the Yashica camera a relative had presented to her businessman husband. Belonging to a traditional Kutchi Memon family who had migrated and settled in Kerala, Haleema started to photograph family members – always women and children – in her Kochi home, Yasmin Manzil. For 20 years, her family members posed obligingly for her camera which was later upgraded to an Agfa.
During this period, Haleema also created another project of great value. “She decided to take pictures of Kutchi Memon brides,” Faizal informs, adding that these photographs document the wedding rituals too. “Since the family had migrated from Kutch and settled in Kerala, many of the rituals were an amalgamation of two cultures. Some of the rituals have not been seen by those outside the community,” Faizal notes. What Haleema clicked is now a photographic archive of a culture that hasn’t even got its own script.
The 70s saw Haleema’s love affair with the camera come to a slow halt. Most of her ‘subjects’ had left home for work or studies.
In early 2000, Haleema decided to move to Ernakulam. Her home of 45 years was donated as a home for the disabled children. On the spur of the moment she burnt the negatives. Thankfully, the photographs remained safe, stacked neatly in family albums.
In high school, Faizal had heard his mother speak about the photographs. On a visit to Ernakulam a couple of years ago, he decided to see for himself. “I was expecting standard snaps but most of her photographs are staged and framed with an unerring eye. These weren’t amateur works.”
He has curated 88 photographs and digitally reproduced them on archival paper. Since the originals were developed from 120 mm film, the format of the works is small, varying from 2.5” X 2.5” squares to 18 colour photographs of 3.5” X 3.5” dimension.
As he prepares for the biennale, Faizal shows his most treasured photograph, which depicts his Ummi Jaan and his businessman grandfather in what may be called a ‘selfie’. Life has come full circle, it seems.
10 am to 6.30 pm from December 12 – March 29 at Aasiya Bai Trust Hall, Kochi.
GO FOR IT... JAYANTHI SAYS SO
Find cheer in colours
If you feel art is about beauty and joy, then look no further than artist Milind Nayak’s brilliantly-hued works. His three-room studio is the go-to destination for some earnest colour therapy. Nayak has an extensive oeuvre in water colours, oils and pastels. The works are of soothing themes; trees sporting bright foliage, lily ponds and more. Over a cup of tea (Nayak is sure to offer a hot cuppa) he is likely to tell you the stories about the tree in front of his studio that got cut, the lotus pond at his friend’s home — both these objects have appeared in many works — and of course, his love for pastels. “How does one explain the beauty of pastels?” he asks. Looking at the vibrant works, there is no need for explanations. Instead, spend an hour browsing through his collection.
No 26/2, between 1st and 2nd Cross, d’Costa Layout, Cooke Town. Call: 9341247279
A rich variety on display If there is an agenda this weekend to look at different genres of art, then head to Chitrakala Parishad’s (CKP) art complex to view the group show of five artists from Kolkata. Sculptures in bronze by Chandan Das and paintings by the quartet: Dhananjoy Ghosh, Mintu Mallick, Krishna Dey and Sanjukta Bhattacharya showcase a variety of styles. From the realistic scenes by Ghosh, semi-realistic cityscapes of Dey, bright blooms depicted by Bhattacharya and the fluid lines of bronze works — this collection aims to please the eye. On their third visit to the city in that many years, the artists (present at the gallery) are eager to explain their works to the visitors. Apart from being a viewing pleasure, the works ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 80,000 are easy on the wallet. For those first time buyers, this could be a good start.
No.1 Art Complex, Kumara Krupa Road. Call: 22261816
Alady in the 1950s was given a camera. The result of those encounters will see the light of the day thanks to her great grandson. Twenty-year-old
In 1950,
During this period, Haleema also created another project of great value. “She decided to take pictures of Kutchi Memon brides,” Faizal informs, adding that these photographs document the wedding rituals too. “Since the family had migrated from Kutch and settled in Kerala, many of the rituals were an amalgamation of two cultures. Some of the rituals have not been seen by those outside the community,” Faizal notes. What Haleema clicked is now a photographic archive of a culture that hasn’t even got its own script.
The 70s saw Haleema’s love affair with the camera come to a slow halt. Most of her ‘subjects’ had left home for work or studies.
Documenting brides came to a screeching halt after a family member objected vociferously. Faizal says, “Ummi Jaan was shocked and decided to stop.”
In early 2000, Haleema decided to move to Ernakulam. Her home of 45 years was donated as a home for the disabled children. On the spur of the moment she burnt the negatives. Thankfully, the photographs remained safe, stacked neatly in family albums.
In high school, Faizal had heard his mother speak about the photographs. On a visit to Ernakulam a couple of years ago, he decided to see for himself. “I was expecting standard snaps but most of her photographs are staged and framed with an unerring eye. These weren’t amateur works.”
He has curated 88 photographs and digitally reproduced them on archival paper. Since the originals were developed from 120 mm film, the format of the works is small, varying from 2.5” X 2.5” squares to 18 colour photographs of 3.5” X 3.5” dimension.
As he prepares for the biennale, Faizal shows his most treasured photograph, which depicts his Ummi Jaan and his businessman grandfather in what may be called a ‘selfie’. Life has come full circle, it seems.
10 am to 6.30 pm from December 12 – March 29 at Aasiya Bai Trust Hall, Kochi.
GO FOR IT... JAYANTHI SAYS SO
Find cheer in colours
If you feel art is about beauty and joy, then look no further than artist Milind Nayak’s brilliantly-hued works. His three-room studio is the go-to destination for some earnest colour therapy. Nayak has an extensive oeuvre in water colours, oils and pastels. The works are of soothing themes; trees sporting bright foliage, lily ponds and more. Over a cup of tea (Nayak is sure to offer a hot cuppa) he is likely to tell you the stories about the tree in front of his studio that got cut, the lotus pond at his friend’s home — both these objects have appeared in many works — and of course, his love for pastels. “How does one explain the beauty of pastels?” he asks. Looking at the vibrant works, there is no need for explanations. Instead, spend an hour browsing through his collection.
No 26/2, between 1st and 2nd Cross, d’Costa Layout, Cooke Town. Call: 9341247279
A rich variety on display If there is an agenda this weekend to look at different genres of art, then head to Chitrakala Parishad’s (CKP) art complex to view the group show of five artists from Kolkata. Sculptures in bronze by Chandan Das and paintings by the quartet: Dhananjoy Ghosh, Mintu Mallick, Krishna Dey and Sanjukta Bhattacharya showcase a variety of styles. From the realistic scenes by Ghosh, semi-realistic cityscapes of Dey, bright blooms depicted by Bhattacharya and the fluid lines of bronze works — this collection aims to please the eye. On their third visit to the city in that many years, the artists (present at the gallery) are eager to explain their works to the visitors. Apart from being a viewing pleasure, the works ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 80,000 are easy on the wallet. For those first time buyers, this could be a good start.
No.1 Art Complex, Kumara Krupa Road. Call: 22261816
