Athmaja Biju

Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.

Walking the Talk: Gita Balakrishnan and the Architecture of Empathy

Architecture, Architecture, Interview /

In an era when design is often equated with visual spectacle, Gita Balakrishnan stands out for turning architecture into an instrument of empathy and social change. Trained at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, and later at Carnegie Mellon University, she began her career with hands-on community work in Bangalore’s slums through AVAS, […]

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Thomas Hines, pioneering historian of modern California architecture, dies at 89

Architecture, Obituary /

Thomas Hines, the influential historian of modern architecture and professor emeritus at UCLA, died at the age of 89. His research transformed the study of California architecture and inspired generations of architectural historians. Thomas Hines, a professor emeritus of history and architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), died on July 28 in

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Three Solo Exhibitions by Soma Das, Ruma Choudhury & Kushal Ray Opening This August in Kolkata

Art, Exhibitions, Photography /

Emami Art Exhibitions Kolkata Emami Art Exhibitions Kolkata open on 8 August 2026 with three solo exhibitions by Soma Das, Ruma Choudhury and Kushal Ray. Together, Emami Art Exhibitions Kolkata present three distinct artistic perspectives on memory, ecology and everyday life. Overall, Emami Art Exhibitions Kolkata offer visitors a chance to experience three remarkable solo

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Carrying Light Forward: Kunal Rohatgi on Craft, Scale, and Legacy

D-Talks, Design, Design /

Kunal Rohatgi represents the third generation of Fos Lighting, a legacy brand rooted in Chandni Chowk since 1950. Rohatgi studied engineering at Ohio State. He later worked at Toyota and Pfizer. Those experiences shaped his approach to operations and quality. Today, he runs Fos Lighting with his brother, Sidharth. Official website: https://foslighting.in/ Under his leadership,

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The Architectural practice of Charles Correa and Indian Modernism

Architecture /

Charles Correa Buildings and Architectural Vision Charles Correa Buildings reflect a thoughtful blend of Modernist principles, Indian traditions, local materials, and climate-responsive design. One of India’s most important architects, Correa practiced architecture and urban planning for more than five decades. Born in Secunderabad, he studied at the University of Michigan and MIT. Later, he developed

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5 Modernist Churches of Italy You Must Know

Architecture /

Modern Italian Churches: Five Architectural Responses Modern Italian churches changed significantly after the Second Vatican Council. Vatican II encouraged greater participation and clarity in worship. It also strengthened the connection between faith and everyday life. As a result, Italian architects moved beyond rigid historical styles. Postwar Italy was also changing rapidly. Economic growth transformed cities

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Framing Rural India: Ritayan Mukherjee on Photography, Memory, and Change

Art, Interview /

Ritayan Mukherjee on Photography and Rural India Ritayan “Rikh” Mukherjee is an independent photographer based in Kolkata. With editorial clients such as the World Bank Group and UNDP, he reports on healthcare, climate change, migration, and culture in rural India, and national and international media have published his photographs. Awarded the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in

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Remembering Home Across Distance: A Conversation with Amin Jaffer

Art, Interview, Venice Biennale 2026 /

Dr. Amin Jaffer, an internationally celebrated curator with a career spanning institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Al Thani Collection, and major biennials, brings a deeply transnational perspective to his role as curator of the India Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. His practice has consistently explored how objects, materials, and histories travel

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“Love Matters”: Kushal Ray on Intimacy, Observation, and the Lifelong Marathon of Photography

Interview /

Kushal Ray’s journey into photography is as unconventional as it is compelling. Born in Kolkata in 1960, he began his career as a sports journalist at The Telegraph before turning to photography full-time in the early 1990s. Self-taught yet deeply informed by observation and empathy, he quickly developed a visual vocabulary that diverged from prevailing

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