JAIPUR.- The first edition of Travel Photo Jaipur is all set to launch in the Pink City from 5-14 February, 2016. The Festival will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shrimati Vasundhara Raje and is being partnered by the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan and generously supported by Birla Samrat Chetak Cement.
Travel Photo Jaipur will showcase a specific kind of photography: travel photography. The launch edition will comprise of fourteen exhibitions from around the world, which will be displayed on large prints at some of the city's landmark locations, including the Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall Museum and Jawahar Kala Kendra, serving to highlight how sites of heritage can be used for contemporary artistic ends.
During the first weekend of the festival (5- 7 February, 2016), there will be a series of talks and screenings as part of a compelling programme to draw lovers of photography to Jaipur. Some of the confirmed panellists are: Yumi Goto (co‐founder and curator of the Reminders Photography Stronghold), Giles Tillotson (Academic and former Director of the Royal Asiatic Society, London), Thomas Seelig (curator, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland),Cristina de Middel (award winning photographer, Spain), Mauro Bedoni (former photo-editor Colors Magazine), Waswo x Waswo (American photographer based in Udaipur), Rafal Milach (photographer and founder of Sputnik Photos) and Pablo Ortiz Monasterio (founder of Centro de la Imagen, Mexico DF).The festival will also offer two special interventions: a travelling photo studio by set designer and photographer Aradhana Seth and the conversion of the former Jaipur Art School in Kishanpole Bazar into a temporary exhibition space by photographer Akshay Mahajan.
Under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, the Hon'ble Vasundhara Raje, the state has launched a series of initiatives to enhance cultural tourism and cement the state's reputation as a destination for the arts. While many states have long focused on traditional crafts and heritage, Rajasthan is also espousing contemporary culture: Jaipur is already renowned for its annual literature festival which draws in thousands. State-wide efforts are now being made to also provide a supportive environment to the contemporary visual arts, photography and music in collaboration with experts and respected professionals from diverse fields.
"With time, the photography festival could have the same appeal for lovers of photography across the globe as the Jaipur Literature Festival has for lovers of literature. The potential is enormous not only because photography is a far more accessible medium than literature, but also because the city of Jaipur has so many sites that could be transformed into remarkable venues for photographic display” as commented by Nikhil Padgaonkar, Producer of Travel Photo Jaipur.
"The residents of Jaipur, who live in one of the most visited and celebrated cities of India, are used to being photographed. With Travel Photo Jaipur, the gaze is now reversed, and it is their turn to observe the photographic wonders of the world”, says Lola Mac Dougall, Artistic Director of Travel Photo Jaipur.
