Aharya – The Visual Poetry of Dance

Exhibition of dance photographs by Avinash Pasricha & Dancescapes by Subodh Poddar

Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta in conversation with Avinash Pasricha

Exhibition: Friday, 25th to Tuesday, 29th – 12 noon – 8.00 pm
In-conversation with Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta: Friday, 25th – 5.00 pm

Step into the lyrical world of Aharya, where the spirit of dance finds expression beyond movement. This evocative exhibition brings together the lens of renowned photographer Avinash Pasricha and the brushstrokes of celebrated artist Subodh Poddar, united by a shared muse – the timeless grace of Indian classical dance. Through Pasricha’s intimate photographic portraits and Poddar’s fluid, interpretive sketches, Aharya becomes a tribute to the costumes, gestures, and emotive power of dance – a visual poetry that lingers long after the performance ends.

Avinash Pasricha is a true pioneer when it comes to dance photography. He has the unique distinction and honour of photographing almost all the eminent musicians and dancers of his time. His rich contribution to the world of art has been in the form of collaborative work with dancers, scholars and critics to showcase the splendour and depth of our art forms to the world at large. Pasricha is himself a subject of great interest with an enviable collection of close to a staggering 3,00,000 images of performing artistes of India in his repertoire. He has been bestowed with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Overall contribution in the field of Music & Dance, and Delhi Sahitya Kala Parishad Award among others.

Subodh Poddar, a graduate of Sir J. J. Institute of Applied Arts, is a multidisciplinary artist known for capturing the essence of live dance performances through sketches. For over 30 years, Poddar has been painting Dancescapes using Chinese ink on rice paper, portraying some of the most celebrated dancers. Beyond painting, he is also a sculptor, working with bronze, terracotta, and ceramic to bring his artistic vision to life. With a deep passion for movement and form, Poddar continues to explore the intersection of dance and visual art, creating a unique artistic language that celebrates the beauty of performance.

The exhibition will feature a guided tour by Pasricha of his iconic works and will be followed by a tête-à-tête on his prolific journey as a dance photographer with Dr. Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Head – Dance, NCPA at 5pm.

Entry free on a first-come-first-served basis.