Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art

and when you return, we will talk again

and when you return, we will talk again

Bharat Choudhary, Kamesh Bhardawaj, Pahul Singh

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Curated by Gulmehar Dhillon

April 11 – May 24, 2024

Opening: April 11, 5 – 8 PM

Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12 PM – 6 PM

and when you return, we will talk again is an exploration through the intricate tapestry of migration narratives, both within and beyond the borders of South Asia. The exhibition delves into the evolving essence of the region, transcending political boundaries and examining the complex themes of belonging and estrangement. It grapples with the profound sense of displacement, whether by choice or circumstance, and the evolving concept of ‘home’ where it represents not just a place, but a repository of emotions, connections, and memories woven into our very being.

Through the works by Bharat Choudhary, Kamesh Bhardawaj and Pahul Singh, the exhibition reflects on nostalgia, longing, and yearning to preserve what has been left behind. Within these works lie the complex politics of belonging, where individuals and communities grapple with the ebb and flow of constantly shifting identities. Navigating through these multifaceted narratives, we confront the ever-expanding and shifting meanings of South Asia(n), beyond geographical confines, shaped by growing diasporas and evolving political dynamics. The exhibition challenges us to confront the enduring legacies of colonialism, shedding light on the intricate intersections of power and displacement, from internal displacement to the far-reaching consequences of climate crises, which are exacerbated by profit-driven capitalism and government policies.

At its core, this exhibition revolves around the concept of “home” impacted by a wide spectrum of experiences. and when you return, we will talk again resonates with the voices of those on journeys, carrying echoes of a quest for “home”.

 

This exhibition is part of the 2024 Capture Photography Festival Selected Exhibitions Program. 

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Artist Biography

Bharat Choudhary is an independent photographer based between London and New Delhi. He has a MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri. He has been a recipient of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship, Alexia Foundation Professional Grant and the Getty Images Grant for Editorial Photography. He has thrice been a finalist for the W. Eugene Smith Grant and a finalist for the Aftermath Grant and the Philip Jones Griffiths Award. His work has been published in TIME, NY Times, Le Monde, International Herald Tribune, The National, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, La Repubblica, Philosophie, and the Sunday Times Magazine.

Kamesh Bharadwaj is a documentary photographer based in Bangalore. His interests lie in studying the consequences of the climate crisis in India. Coming from a background in journalism and sociology, he critically explores the idea of development, and the effects of the same on access and management of common resources.

He hopes to explore everyday processes that propagate the climate crisis, focusing on people and communities that are most vulnerable to it due to class, caste, and geography. He hopes that his practice is open to generative dialogue with multiple perspectives and narratives to emerge.

Pahul Singh holds an MVA from The Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU Baroda. She is the recipient of the Emerging Artist Award awarded by FICA (2022) and the Scholarship to Young Artists awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2019-20). She has been artist-in-residence for KHOJ PEERS (2021) and Arthshila x FICA at Parivartan, Bihar (2023). Her participations include ‘Embark IV and V’ by Ark Foundation for the Arts (Vadodara), ‘Perceptual Transfers’ a video programme by VAICA (New Delhi), ‘Fleeting Identities’ by MASH India (New Delhi) and the Kochi-Muziris Student’s Biennale ‘States of Disarray: Practice as Restitution’.

 

Curator Biography

Gulmehar Dhillon is an independent photographer and emerging curator, based between New Delhi and Vancouver. Her research interests delve into the intricate crossroads of lens-based practices, methodologies and activism, embodying a conception of art as an instrument of resilience and dissent. Presently, she is a Masters candidate in Art History (Critical Curatorial Studies) at the University of British Columbia.

Dhillon has previously curated shows at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication (New Delhi, India) and Lobby Gallery (School of Public Policy, UBC). She has also contributed as a researcher-author at ASAP | Art. 

 

With support from the Audain Endowment for Curatorial Studies through the Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory in collaboration with the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery at The University of British Columbia.

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Accessibility: The gallery is wheelchair and walker accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, please contact us at (604) 683-8326 or [email protected]. Centre A is situated on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We honour, respect, and give thanks to our hosts.