A Nationally Touring Exhibition Reaches Jehangir Art Gallery
Currently touring across India, Lenscape Kerala, the travelling photography exhibition, continues its national journey in Mumbai. The exhibition will be presented at the Jehangir Art Gallery from 12th to 14th February, 2026, offering city audiences a visual immersion into Kerala’s landscapes, cultures, and lived realities.
Kerala as a Living Mosaic
Kerala is presented not merely as a destination, but as a living mosaic of landscape, culture, memory, and light. Lenscape Kerala features 100 curated photographs captured by 10 leading travel lensmen and media photographers from across India. Their journeys across the state explore themes ranging from heritage architecture and rural life to backwaters, festivals, coastal ecosystems, wildlife, monsoon moods, traditional sports, spirituality, and cuisine.
Curated by Uma Nair
The exhibition has been designed and curated by eminent art historian, author, and curator Uma Nair, whose deep personal and professional connection to Kerala informs the exhibition’s narrative. The project travels across **ten Indian cities—New Delhi, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Surat, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata—**bringing Kerala’s cultural fabric and scenic diversity to new audiences and media ecosystems.
Curator’s Reflection on the Photographic Journey
Reflecting on the exhibition, curator Uma Nair, born in Kerala in 1955, notes that when ten photographers come together to document the state over ten days, the resulting images move between “sylvan sunsets, sunrises, and secular principles of quiet, grounded belonging.” From internationally acclaimed photographers like Aishwarya Sridhar to noted practitioners such as Kounteya Sinha, Amit Pasricha, and Manoj Arora, each photographic series emerges as an awakening to nature, land, faith, and diverse lifestyles.
Landscapes, Light, and Lived Experience
From the architectural symbolism of antiquity to the winding backwaters of Kuttanad and the moody Western Ghats of northern Kerala, each photographer spent five intensive days capturing what they found imperative and evocative. Filtered light, gentle silhouettes, sculptural identities, and the dramatic gravitas of Theyyam come together to celebrate an earthy vocabulary shaped by the relationship between humans and nature.
Everyday Idioms and Timeless Atmospheres
Across colour and black-and-white compositions, the exhibition reflects Kerala’s unique ability to age beautifully within its coastal humidity. Street scenes, everyday gestures, and architectural openness encourage viewers to pause—offering moments of stillness in a world that increasingly moves at relentless speed.
A Mindful Tourism Initiative
Lenscape Kerala flagged off on 20th January, 2026 in New Delhi and will conclude on 31st March, 2026 in Surat. Alongside the exhibition, curator-led walks and photographer interactions foster dialogue around image-making, ecology, heritage, and community—reinforcing the idea that travel and tourism gain meaning when practised mindfully.
An Initiative by Kerala Tourism
An initiative by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, Lenscape Kerala functions as a public outreach campaign that transforms admiration into itineraries. By translating Kerala’s richness into compelling imagery, the project aims to spark travel intent, deepen cultural curiosity, and strengthen livelihoods connected to tourism. The 100-photograph collection anchors a travelling exhibition circuit and a broader suite of promotional assets for Kerala Tourism.
Exhibition Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exhibition Title | Lenscape Kerala |
| Dates (Mumbai) | 12th – 14th February, 2026 |
| Venue | Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai |
| Curator | Uma Nair |
| Photographs | 100 works by 10 photographers |
| Tour Dates | 20th January – 31st March, 2026 |
Participating Photographers
The exhibition features works by Aishwarya Sridhar, Amit Pasricha, H Satish, Kounteya Sinha, Manoj Arora, Natasha Kartar Hemrajani, Saibal Das, Saurabh Anand Chatterjee, Shivang Mehta, and Umesh Gogna—each contributing a distinct visual voice to the collective portrait of Kerala.
List of Participating Artist
- Amit Pasricha
- H Satish
- Kounteya Sinha
- Manoj Arora
- Natasha Kartar Hemrajani
- Saibal Das
- Saurabh Anand Chatterjee
- Shivang Mehta
- Umesh Gogna
Takeaway
As Lenscape Kerala arrives in Mumbai, it offers more than a visual journey—it invites reflection on ecology, heritage, and mindful travel. Through carefully sequenced imagery and curatorial depth, the exhibition opens a space for discovery and dialogue, where Kerala’s stories unfold through light, landscape, and lived experience.
