Dr R. K Pachauri, President, India Habitat Centre, and Mr Raj Liberhan, director India Habitat Centre announced the India Habitat Centre Fellowship for Photography 2005 at the Annual Arts Evening held at the Hub, India Habitat Centre, on October 14, 2005.

* Winner of India Habitat Centre Fellowship for Photography 2005 is Sandeep Biswas.

Sandeep Biswas receives the IHC Fellowship for Photography 2005

Special Commendation for “Eye in Progress”

Since photography is now a serious art practice, by hosting some of the major photo exhibits of the country including the works of talented photographers like Probir Purkayastha and Anay Mann among others, the Visual Arts Gallery provides a unique platform to showcase and promote photography.

Every year, the Visual Arts Gallery also commits itself to supporting the work of one emerging photographer in the country. The India Habitat Centre Fellowship for Photography is a grant aimed at supporting emerging photographers already working on a project. In the year 2003, the fellowship for photographer was given to Anay Mann, and in 2004 it has gone to Sumeet Inder Singh.

This year:
Jury met on October 3, 2005 for deliberations under the chairmanship of Mr Raj Liberhan, Director, India Habitat Centre.

Jury members included Mr. Bandeep Singh and Mr. Tarun Khiwal.

Works by Rajib De, Haran and Kriti Arora were considered noteworthy by the jury.

Rajib De: (Photographs)
Jury comments: Jury’s comments:

“Rajib’s work reflected a very refined documentary approach. The work was striking in its aesthetic quality and fruitfulness. The jury however, felt that the images though singularly brilliant needed to capture more of the central themes, soul and character.”

Haran: (Photographs)
Jury’s comments:

“We are very impressed by the honesty and freshness Haran brought into the theme now coming a steady choice for most photographers. The works however need a conceptual platform to give it an original character. Haran is still very young and holds our ‘great’ promise of the future."

Kriti Arora: (photographs)
Jury’s comments:

“The jury felt that Kriti’s work exhibited high sophistication and conceptual insight. It was however unanimously felt that the images submitted for the award were too fragmented to constitute singular theme which was a requisite for the award.”

Special Commendation for “Eye in Progress” was given to Hyderabad based photographer, R Veeresh Babu. (photographs)
Jury’s comments:

“We found Veeresh Babu’s work very honest and reflective of conceptual unity both in content and style.”

Winner of India Habitat Centre Fellowship for Photography 2005 is Sandeep Biswas
(photographs)

Jury’s comments:

“ Sandeep Biswas has been awarded the fellowship for the conceptual depth and sophistication of the images. The jury found his work exhibiting freshness of vision and a strong graphic sense in a oft repeated theme. The jury suggests Sandeep to explore a fresh theme for his exhibition at the India Habitat Centre.