ParulScape at Bikaner House

ParulScape at Bikaner House

This Friday Bikaner House opens up their space for a few rediscovered mundane moments snatched from the streets. ParulScape - a debut photography exhibition by Parul Sharma holds a lens to the mundanities of everyday life and finds contrast, life and beauty. 

A collection of around 40 images, the show captures the visual imagination of the photographer and her narrative transcend the realm of objectification and plays with space. ‘This series is largely about my fascination with places, patterns, poetry of objects. I began not to take everything or anything visual that came under my gaze for granted. Usually we glance at things and pass by. I don't do that. I'm enchanted by the images of everydayness and i want to make something original, meaningful and beautiful out of them. 

Usually in photography we look for a moment, a situation, drama, exceptional faces, figures and landscapes. But for me there is nothing mundane. When I sit across you, the glass on the table, the cutlery, the ring on your finger - they all tell me a story.  I used to pass by Sea Link during my Mumbai official trips very often and in the beginning I took it for granted. Then I realised that I'm passing by a visual extravaganza and I wanted to reduce it to a minimalistic image of patterns and shadow play in black and white. Any art form including photography is for storytelling. I try to visually atomise them and then I  realize nothing is mundane and I can only see beauty.’

ParulScape at Bikaner House

ParulScape at Bikaner House

'I do not understand art.
No work speaks to me. Not that I bother to listen, in any case.
I like one of two things: the look and the idea.
I do not look for threads. I am not a haberdasher.
But what I do look out for is talent. In every sphere of my life.
And when I find talent in the most unexpected places, I encourage it.
Because that is what true talent deserves: recognition and a gentle nudge.
I don’t know what binds this collection of photographs?
I don’t even know what you will see in it.
I will just tell you what I saw in it.
I saw an eye looking for beauty in a bridge.
I saw an eye seeing character in a chair.
I saw an eye seeking wonder in a window.
Seeing poetry in the predictable.
Seeing a sonnet in the simple.
Seeing magic in the mundane.
That’s life. That’s art.

So whatever you see in this, is what was ordained to be seen.'

Curatorial Note by Swapan Seth

ParulScape at Bikaner House

ParulScape will be on view at Bikaner House from 28th to 30th July.