Artist of the Month August

This month, ICAI celebrates and highlights photographer and visual artist Twinkle Banerjee as our Artist of the Month. We sat down to talk art, her journey so far, her favourite exhibits, and how artists can further hone their craft.


Tell us a little about your artistic background and journey?
I’m a photographer with a practice swinging between old-world nostalgia and modern-day conceptual stories. Originally from India, I migrated to Canada in 2010 and called it home ever since.
It has been a long winded journey to get here, where I started understanding how public galleries and open calls worked. Learning was mostly done online and any books I could get my hands on at the library. I am looking at exhibiting and funding opportunities that would fast track the completion of my projects.
I’m passionate about climate change and issues surrounding the global supply chain. Through my work, I want to create a meeting point between research and conceptualism to make these issues more accessible to society.
I found out about ICAI through an open call they did with the Untitled Art Gallery. ICAI gave me the first exhibit here in Calgary and also helped me understand the underworks of a public gallery and working with one. It was a great learning and growth opportunity.
I’ve exhibited at the ICP- New York, Greece, and published in Berlin besides many other group exhibits and residencies both in Canada and abroad.
In the near future, I also hope to document rural and folk culture in India that is diminishing due to globalization while trying to decolonize the narrative surrounding photography in the country.


Can you tell us what inspires you to create your works?
My works are drawn from personal research and my dual identity that I share from being an Indian-Canadian, I am deeply interested in activism through photography, and want to delve deeper into issues such as climate change and global consumerism and issues surrounding supply chain.


What would you like to share with the people of Calgary about your works?
I would love to have the opportunity to share the work itself and create awareness around issues I believe are important.


What are the goals you are hoping to achieve in the next few months through your arts?
I am looking to create a series of work on a project I have been researching for a while.

For more incredible art, please find Twinkle Banerjee at the following links:
Website
Instagram