This issue of Art and Deal focuses on photography. As a keen reader you may be wondering why
we are repeating an issue on photography as we just published an issue on the same subject in July
2013. As we know, nowadays billions of photographs are being uploaded on social networking sites. In
such a scenario the interest in photography as a special genre of art should be depleting. However, on
the contrary, more and more people are taking an interest in photography day by day. Several agencies
have come up to promote photography as an art form. Some are even contemplating to set up exclusive
museums for photography in India.
The Delhi Photo Festival is just two years old. We will see the grand opening of its second edition
in September at the India Habitat Centre. Initiated by the Nazar Foundation, led by photographers,
Prashant Panjiar and Dinesh Khanna, this festival has already become a huge hit in the cultural world.
International acclamation has been proved by the sheer number of entries received for participation by
the organizers this time. Art and Deal has taken out this special issue on photography in celebration
of their achievement.
While Prashant Panjiar speaks to Art and Deal about the festival in a detailed interview, we
have also interviewed veteran photographers like Rafeeq Ellias and Abul Kalam Azad. Grace is the
theme of the Delhi Photo Festival inspired by the ace photographer, late Prabuddha Dasgupta. In his
article, noted sculptor and curator, K. S. Radhakrishnan remembers his friend, for decades, Dasgupta,
gracefully. We are very happy to celebrate Vicky Roy, the young achiever in the world of photography,
in our cover story. Also, we have a special feature on the young photographer, Chandan Gomes.
We do not forget the masters even while celebrating our young generation of photographers. We
have special features on Jyotish Chakraborty, the master printer, Jyoti Bhatt, the master print maker
and Raghu Rai, the master chronicler of Delhi. Our article on Goa CAP and the Photography Design
department at NID, Ahmedabad, sheds light on the new approaches to photography and photography
education. We have also highlighted how organizations like Tasveer have been doing their best to set
up exhibitions and collecting avenues for photography.
This issue of Art and Deal also deals with the South East Asian art scene as exemplified by the
Bangladeshi artist and how the victims of religious pogrom articulate their experiences through art.
Cinema, art and coffee, book reviews and a life style interview with an artist will provide you with
engaging reading material.
This is my second term as the Managing Editor of Art and Deal. You have been a great support to
our magazine in my first tenure in 2011-2012. I expect your continued support and blessings.
Have a great September 2013
JohnyML