Pondicherry

AN EXHIBITION BY SEBASTIAN CORTES

Opening on Saturday, 28 April 2012, at 7:00 pm

Exhibition is on public view from 29 April till 20 May (11am – 7 pm)

Gallerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Française de Delhi

Alliance Française de Delhi is very proud to present you the work of the photographer Sebastian Cortés revolving around the city of Pondicherry and its different perceptions and representations, through pictures but also through words.

Pondicherry is an extended photo essay, which has as its main focus the photographer’s perception and visual interpretation of the city of Pondicherry, in south India. The photographer journeys into the metaphorical and anthropological folds of the city searching for a sense of “place”- his interpretation of a specific environment and how it’s inhabited. The photographer goes beyond the walls and penetrates into the private sphere, into homes, spaces and routines, which exemplify a certain culture or cultures, always searching for visual messages that compose the tapestry of perception, both of the past and of the present. The perception of “place” is also offered in words. The photographer has sought out the participation of several noted French and Indian writers (Pascal Bruckner, Akash Kapur, and Amin Jaffer), who have, through the magic of words, offered up very personal and insightful views of Pondicherry - words and images working in a complimentary way for an artistic perception of Pondicherry

Sebastian Cortés, born in New York, took up photography in 1980 while at the New York University film school, where he studied and collaborated with many of the best names in the industry. In 1985, he moved to Milan and pursued fashion and lifestyle photography assignments for many international magazines, as well as for commercial clients, while also concentrating on portraits and personal work. In 2004, Sebastian moved with his family to India. His award-winning photography is greatly appreciated and has enriched several book projects. Currently, he divides his time and energy between commercial, editorial, and artistic projects, both in India and Europe.