Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), in collaboration with Museo Camera, is presenting Touching Light, an exhibition that marks 200 years of photography and reflects on the history of analogue image-making. The exhibition is open to visitors until 29 May 2026 at KCC in Kolkata.
Two Centuries of Photographic Practice
The exhibition brings together rare nineteenth-century photographs and contemporary analogue works to examine photography both as a historical archive and as a living process. By placing early formats alongside present-day practices, Touching Light highlights how analogue methods continue to shape visual culture.
Historic Works on Display
Among the featured works are Carte de Visite photographs by Bourne & Shepherd, one of the most significant commercial studios in colonial India. Also included are albumen prints and Beauties of Lucknow by Darogha Abbas Ali, a landmark publication documenting nineteenth-century Lucknow.
Highlights of the Exhibition
- Carte de Visite portraits by Bourne & Shepherd
- Albumen prints from the nineteenth century
- Beauties of Lucknow by Darogha Abbas Ali
- Contemporary analogue photography works
About Museo Camera
Based in Gurugram, Museo Camera is India’s museum dedicated to photography and visual culture. Founded by photographer and collector Aditya Arya, the institution houses an extensive collection of cameras, photographs, and archival materials and regularly organises exhibitions and educational programmes.
About Kolkata Centre for Creativity
Kolkata Centre for Creativity is a multidisciplinary arts space established by Anamika Kala Sangam and supported by the Emami Group. Located on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, the centre hosts exhibitions, workshops, performances, and public programmes across visual and performing arts.
Visitor Information
The exhibition is being held on the first floor of Kolkata Centre for Creativity, 777 Anandapur, EM Bypass, Kolkata. It is open daily from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM and is open to all visitors.Â
| Event | Details |
| Title | Touching Light |
| Artist / Participants | Group exhibition featuring historical and contemporary analogue photography |
| Venue | Kolkata Centre for Creativity, 1st Floor |
| City | Kolkata |
| Opening Date | 16 May 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | On display till 29 May 2026 |
| Organiser | Kolkata Centre for Creativity in collaboration with Museo Camera |
| Entry / Tickets | Open for all |
| Website | https://www.kolkatacentreforcreativity.org |
Photography as Material Memory
Touching Light offers an opportunity to look closely at the physical and cultural history of photography. By presenting both historic prints and contemporary analogue practices, the exhibition encourages viewers to consider how images preserve memory, shape historical understanding, and continue to influence artistic practice today.
Conclusion
Touching Light offers a rare opportunity to view photography not only as a means of image-making but also as a material and cultural record. By bringing together historic prints and contemporary analogue practices, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the enduring relationship between technology, memory, and artistic expression. In a time dominated by digital images, the show underscores the continued relevance of analogue photography and its role in preserving both personal and collective histories.
