Vinya Singh
As night falls and city lights flicker over the underpass connecting Sector 17 market and the Rose Garden, a photography exhibition titled Sector-17 Beyond The Façade, celebrating the hub, invites visitors to explore the urban landscape through a different lens. Set against the backdrop of the underpass, the event showcases a stunning collection of cityscape photography, highlighting the beauty of the mundane; bustling market square, ordinary people, and architectural marvels.
The exhibition features works by Sanjay Kaushal and Subh Mohan Singh, both celebrated photographers of the Tricity, each capturing the essence of the city’s heart through the seasons and beyond. The interplay of the elements in the photographs creates an immersive experience by re-introducing viewers to the fabled Sector 17 Plaza and surrounding landscapes, where the audience can look for themselves in the carefully preserved moments. Kaushal says, “It’s quite archival, I wanted to capture Sector 17 and document it for the future generations to look back and perceive Chandigarh in this moment of time.” By putting Sector 17 as the subject, the photographers aimed to shift focus from the neon signboards of the shopping plaza and weave a brand new narrative, revolving around the beauty of everyday life in Chandigarh.
Both the photographers are frequent collaborators, who have worked predominately in the region and made Chandigarh their home. Subh Mohan Singh says, “Sometimes I go along with my family, sometimes I go alone to work; it’s not a chore to capture the area when it’s so beloved.”
From fleeting moments at the picturesque plaza to shadowy alleyways surrounded by lush greenery, the images offer a contrasting perspective, inviting the viewers to slow down and look closer at the familiar spaces. Nisha, a local, shares, “They highlighted the things that we frequently overlook; Sector 17 goes beyond flashy shops and eateries.”
Beyond the visuals, the evening event offers lively conversation with the local artists and photographers, with live music echoing through the halls while savouring a spread of local snacks and tea.
(The exhibition is open to the public till February 27)
