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A Photographic Study of People Past and Spaces Continuous.
The College itself had no wiles, it was a welcoming space and friends were made easily. There was an unusual encouragement to participate in activities, and since I was always inclined towards it, I jumped into every activity possible and emerged wonderfully educated. My first tryst with a still camera was with the College where my first photograph was published on the cover of the annual College magazine.
It captivated me, and 31 years after graduating, the camera has continuously been my best friend and companion. Last year when I realised that the College was on the brink of a Sesquicentennial, I created a project on paper and approached the Organising Committee and proposed a 150th Year Commemorative Calendar and a series of portraits of retired teachers, Jesuits and staff. I had created a similar Calendar Project in 1994, the 125th year of the Institution.
What you see in these photographs is the depth of commitment that was taught to me in this outstanding structure. It was made invaluable by the people in the portraits, some who taught me, some who knew me and some who didn’t. But each of whom represented and upheld the values of humanity, compassion and sharing. This made me the person who I am. This Project is my effort to give back to St. Xavier’s, some of what it gave me.
About the Artist
Born in 1968, Hemant Chaturvedi is 'an accidental cinematographer and photographer' as he calls himself, was first on a movie set in 1985 and his last day was sometime in 2017. A conscious decision to move on from cinematography was made in 2015. There was a certain discomfort with the nature of the film industry that had started bothering him, and the desire to be independent in mind and spirit catapulted him into a simpler life.
Since then he has had three group shows and one solo show of his still photography works. His solo show spanned 30 years of work.
During this period he also managed 11 full length feature films (Company, Makdee, Maqbool, 15 Park Avenue, Kurbaan, Ishaqzaade, Arjun the Warrior Prince, Dekh Tamasha Dekh etc.) and well over 500 commercials, music videos, short films and even around 2000 hours of television work as a director of photography.
Currently, Hemant is working on multiple projects, all self-initiated, self-motivated and self-financed. He is envisioning a wide range of themes and subjects, from Dhrupad Gurukuls, Single Screen Cinema Theatres, the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and the small joys of taking his trusted Olympus cameras on quiet road trips in different directions. In the past he has photographed different parts of the world, Ramleelas in Allahabad, a Charlie Chaplin Impersonator in Kutch, the Kumbh Mela several times, Old British Cemeteries in Allahabad, the list is endless.
The photographer lives and works in Mumbai.
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