Ārun, Holly Birtles and Sojam Joshi were selected to gather in Chennai, India, in December 2024 to be residents at the Chennai Photo Biennale Community Darkroom for 6 weeks. Working across different processes, the artists demonstrated the evolving possibilities of alternative and analogue photographic techniques, often challenging traditional ideas. These projects draw on the darkroom as a space for meditative introspection, experimental discovery, friendship and camaraderie.
All projects culminated in Alt:Analog, an exhibition part of Chennai Photo Biennale Edition 4. Open from 16 January to 15 February, Alt:Analog presented a diverse exploration of material, process and concept.
The Darkroom Residency is the result of a partnership between CPB Foundation and Photoworks, supported by the British Council.
Ārun shares his experience below:
During my time in the darkroom residency, I had the opportunity to deeply explore alternative and analogue photography. Being immersed in a fully equipped darkroom, surrounded by passionate photographers, was an invaluable experience that allowed me to push my practice in new directions.
The connection between my creative vision and the physicality of the darkroom process was both refreshing and grounding. The residency also fostered a supportive community of artists, allowing me to share ideas and gain new perspectives that enriched my work. This collaborative environment was a key part of my growth during the residency.
The connection between my creative vision and the physicality of the darkroom process was both refreshing and grounding. The residency also fostered a supportive community of artists, allowing me to share ideas and gain new perspectives that enriched my work. This collaborative environment was a key part of my growth during the residency.
The outcomes of the residency have been multifaceted. I completed a series of gum-oil prints that have now become a cornerstone of my ongoing project. Additionally, I gained new skills in analogue processes, such as creating positives from negative films, a technique that helps project my body of work into slides. Overall, the residency strengthened my technical ability while also reminding me of the importance of experimentation, presence, and patience in artistic creation.
