‘Lenscape Kerala’ photo exhibition opens in city

Vadodara: Showcasing Kerala as a rich blend of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural life, Kerala Tourism on Tuesday opened its all-India photo exhibition ‘Lenscape Kerala' in the city. The exhibition has 100 curated photographs by 10 leading travel and media photographers from across the country.After a four-day run in New Delhi from Jan 20, the exhibition opened at The Distillery in Alembic City, on Tuesday. It will continue until Thursday. On Tuesday, Vadodara collector and district magistrate Anil Dhameliya inaugurated the exhibition, after which the curator, Uma Nair, conducted a walkthrough. Dhameliya said Gujaratis are among the country's most avid travellers. "Many of us may have visited Kerala, but the exhibition presents a very different perspective on its people, rural and tribal life, wildlife, and cultural diversity," he said. A four-minute behind-the-scenes film titled "Frame Within A Frame" was screened at the inauguration. As part of the event, participating photographers will also conduct a masterclass for aspiring photographers from 2pm on Jan 28. In a message, Kerala tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas said the exhibition celebrates the state's cultural pluralism while guiding travellers towards its forests, hills, backwaters, places of worship and festivals, positioning Kerala as an experiential tourism destination. Curated by eminent art critic Uma Nair, with wildlife photographer Balan Madhavan as director of photography, the exhibition captures Kerala's landscapes, heritage, wildlife and spirituality. Each photographer travelled across the state for five days, covering themes ranging from coastal life and architecture to festivals and rural traditions. After Vadodara, the exhibition will travel to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Surat, concluding on March 31.