The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru is currently showcasing the in-house curated photography exhibition “I to Eye: Shades of Humanity,” featuring black-and-white works by photographer Asha Thadani and curated by Amrutha R. Presented under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, the show highlights the evocative power of monochromatic storytelling to capture human experiences.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition opened on March 6, 2026, with an inauguration graced by Chief Guest Prakash Belawadi, a noted actor, director, and activist from Bengaluru, and Guest of Honour Prasad Bidapa, a prominent fashion consultant and textile expert. It remains on view for a month, running through early April 2026 at NGMA Bengaluru on Palace Road. Visitors can explore the compelling photographs daily, typically from 11 AM to 6:30 PM, with free entry subject to gallery timings.
Coal Worker, Jharia, India & Image Credit: Asha Thadani
About Asha Thadani
Bangalore-based Asha Thadani, a self-taught photographer active since 1996, specializes in vivid imagery of remote cultures, traditions, and contemporary life, often drawing universal stories from India; her works have been exhibited at Paris’s Albert Kahn Museum and Christie’s, and nominated for the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award. Amrutha R, Deputy Curator at NGMA Bengaluru since 2022, brings expertise from prior roles including curator at Heritage Museum NIMHANS and art conservator at INTACH. Their collaboration emphasizes humanity’s shades through photography’s lens.
Housed in a heritage building, NGMA Bengaluru displays modern Indian art by masters like Raja Ravi Varma and Amrita Sher-Gil alongside contemporary shows, making it a key cultural hub. Recent exhibitions like Lenscape Kerala underscore the gallery’s focus on photography. This event aligns with ongoing efforts to promote visual narratives under government patronage.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
