Concrete evidence

Manpriya Singh

The fact that there is a unique sort of beauty in symmetry, repetition and predictability is especially true in the case of Chandigarh. Highlighting the essence of the architecture of the city, each of the 27 displayed works at the exhibition, titled Architecture in Detail—The Chandigarh Experience, pulls the viewer into the architectural beauty that one is likely to miss out in the landmarks and buildings dotting the city.

Organised by the M.N. Sharma Architectural Society in association with Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and Alliance Francaise Chandigarh, the exhibition puts together the award-winning works and selected entries of competition organised for the citizens of tricity. “This is the third M.N.Sharma photography award, which is given every year to budding photographers from tricity, based on the title and theme of the subject,” says Yojna Rawat, general secretary of the MN Sharma Architectural Society, and how themes are usually related to architecture, town planning, nature, environment and character of the City Beautiful.

Out of this year’s 33 received entries, the 27 that have been chosen for display focus on the famous shadow of light and the structures, draw out the beauty in black and white and very few human elements making it to the frames. For instance, two men standing in the corridors in artist Kasturi’s works. Samar Singh Virdi’s work highlighting the familiar wall of Chandigarh College of Architecture against the backdrop of clouds is in stark contrast to most of the works devoid of colours. In several of the works, the rectangular structures supported by cylindrical pillars and corridors that are invariably a part of any building in the original master plan of the city make it difficult to recognise or name the building. That’s also true of the red protruding bricks of several government accommodations done primarily in red and white. Save for structures with instant recall value, for example, the sculpture adorning the fountain in the heart of Sector 17 plaza. While the water works may not be in display in the photograph, the birds in flight bring out the uniqueness of the colourless grey cemented wall.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

On view till January 28 at Alliance Francaise—36, Chandigarh