Lavani is a dance form in Maharashtra performed on public stages and popular for its erotic nature. It is a performative tradition practiced by a certain set of communities consisting of interactive gestures, and songs, and noted for its biting dialogues often toned with socio-political satire. The dancers are always agile and attentive to the audience’s reactions.

Sudhakar Olwe’s photography is that of empathy. His photographs cover almost two decades of the communities who have been part of performative troupes, photographing the artists’ on and off-stage lives meticulously. He offers a deeply poignant perspective on the lives of this fringe ‘community’ struggling to survive in this postmodern world.

Installation View

‘तमाशा या लोककलेचा सर्वस्पर्शी आलोक साक्षात उभा करणाऱ्या’ तसंच त्यासोबतच ‘कला आणि जगणं यातला विरोधात्मक शोषण-भाव व्यक्त करणाऱ्या’ सुधारक ओलवे यांच्या छायाचित्रांचं प्रदर्शन – ‘लावणी’ १३ जानेवारी ते १८ फेब्रुवारी २०२३ दरम्यान सकाळी साडेदहा ते संध्याकाळी साडेसात या वेळेत ‘नाइन फिश आर्ट गॅलरी’ इथे साकारणार आहे. प्रदर्शनासाठी छायाचित्रांची निवड आणि मांडणी गौरमुनी दास यांनी केली आहे.

महाराष्ट्राच्या सांस्कृतिक वैभवाचा एक अविभाज्य घटक असलेल्या ‘लावणी’नं आपल्या शृंगारिक अदांनी शतकानुशतकं कितीएक मनांना रिझवलं आहे. लावणीची संवादात्मक, थेट भाषा, कधी आव्हानात्मक, हजरजबाबी, तर क्वचितप्रसंगी सामाजिक-राजकीय विडंबनात्मकही होते. समोरच्या रसिक प्रेक्षकांची अपेक्षा आणि फर्माईश पुरी करण्यात लावणीनर्तिका कसर राहू देत नाहीत. मग लावणी नर्तिकांच्या अदांमधून, विभ्रमांमधून, देहबोलीतून उत्कटपणे सादर होतो तो शृंगारभाव अवघ्या महाराष्ट्राला चिरपरिचित आहे.

पण सुधारक ओलवेंचा कॅमेरा या शृंगारिक अदा टिपण्यात रमत नाही. या अदांमागची पडद्याआड राहिलेली मजबुरी, वेदना, वंचना त्यांच्या छायाचित्रांमध्ये उतरते. लोककलेचं जोखड पिढ्या दरपिढ्या वाहणाऱ्या, जातिव्यवस्थेत पायदळी असलेल्या या समुहांचा जगण्याचा आणि तगण्याचा आटापिटा ही छायाचित्रं आपल्यापर्यंत पोहोचवतात.

— Artist Spotlight

Sudharak Olwe

Sudharak Olwe (1966), is a well-known Mumbai based documentary photographer who has been marking a new space within Indian photography. His works are widely published in national and international publications. His works have been exhibited in Malmo (Sweden), Lisbon, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Washington, Dhaka, Mumbai and Delhi. He has worked with many organisations, recording their extraordinary work in both rural and urban communities. His photographs present tales of resilience, courage, and change. In 2005, Olwe was one of the four awardees for National Geographic’s “All Roads Photography Program”. In 2016, he received the Padmashri, one of highest civilian awards awarded by the Government of India.

12” x 12” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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12” x 16” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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16” x 12” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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15” x 43.7” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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16” x 24” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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16” x 24” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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16” x 24” - Edition of 10 - Printed on Archival Hahnnemuhle...

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