Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) and the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation (JNAF) in collaboration with Foam Fotografiemuseum, Amsterdam present Still/Life, an exhibition of contemporary Dutch photography that draws its inspiration from the theme of still life practiced by the Dutch masters of the 16th and 17th century. This group exhibition with the art historical theme ‘still life’, a collection of unanimated objects, presents various forms of contemporary still life. The exhibition is curated by Marcel Feil, deputy director, artistic affairs at Foam.

Inspired by flowers, fruit and Vanitas themes, the artists create new worlds in their studios, which only occasionally still show recognisable objects. Whether the end product is a picture, video, sculpture or an installation containing photography, the composition is always balanced in form, colour and light in a considered way.

The presentation of this exhibition in Mumbai seeks to connect audiences with a show that charts developments relating to photography as a medium and presents an overview of the current climate in autonomous photography. While some artists have used photography to produce tranquil images, others have used the tranquility of the subject to demonstrate the flexibility of the medium.

As a theme, still life remains as relevant as ever in today’s climate. For a wide group of contemporary photographers, still life continues to inspire, although the concept has been modernised and updated. The ‘Potatoes’ series by Anuschka Blommers and Niels Schumm for example, is far from traditional, yet highly graphic and the subject is extremely Dutch. Given the choice of photographers, the show forms a survey of the talent that Foam has discovered, followed and presented in the last fifteen years.

With work by: Blommers & Schumm, Elspeth Diederix, Uta Eisenreich, Eva-Fiore Kovacovsky, Paul Kooiker, Yvonne Lacet, Krista van der Niet, Jaap Scheeren & Hans Gremmen, Scheltens & Abbenes, Johannes Schwartz, Ingmar Swalue, Anne de Vries and Qiu Yang.

About FOAM

Foam is all about photography.

Foam is an internationally operating organisation in the field of photography, based in Amsterdam. Foam informs and inspires the widest possible audience by presenting all facets of contemporary photography. This is accomplished by organising a range of activities varying from exhibitions to publications, debates and educational projects. Foam discovers, develops, defines, publishes and stimulates. In this process, scouting and presenting young, emerging talent is one of Foam’s distinguishing qualities. Many activities take place from within the museum in Amsterdam, but for specific projects Foam will also approach an international audience. Foam frequently organises events abroad, often in close collaboration with our partners. Foam is situated in the heart of the international photography community and aims to be constantly up-to-date. Foam responds to the latest developments in photography with original yet relevant projects, and is not afraid to break with tradition and strike new paths. In this process, quality, flexibility, innovation, accessibility and entrepreneurship are core values.

www.foam.org