Photo: Prayut Jain
Ankit Banerjee is a contemporary photographer and musician, with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Statistics. Since 2011, they have worked with a variety of clients spanning different industries, including fashion and lifestyle brands, art galleries, and weddings. Currently, they are passionate about exploring the fragility of interpersonal relationships and sexuality, through the connection between the mind, heart, and body. They believe that these three elements are fundamental to our existence and that by nurturing them, we can build a more empathetic and compassionate world. Overcoming their own generational conditioning, and to accept themself fearlessly as their work entered domains of nudity, challenging what is “problematic”. Their process involves questioning our need to sanitise our cultures and societies, homogenising them and overlooking areas that demand sensitive understanding. They hold conversations that tease and provoke the definition of “normal” and “acceptable”, moving from an internal level of introspection towards how our mentalities are moulded on a larger social and political level. Their projects are a reflection of this philosophy and conviction in the power of art. Ankit also indulges in production of podcasts to satiate his love for conversations/ soundscapes, and is currently exploring the amalgamation of the two media.
Ankit is currently associated with the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bangalore.
Published by The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle, and The Times of India; 1 Shanti Road Gallery, photo.circle Nepal, The Alipore Post, F-Stop Magazine, Architectural Digest, Under25 Club, EyeEm Magazine, The Print Swap, Pornceptual, and COCOON Art Magazine.
Education:
photo.circle Visual Thinking & Making, Kathmandu, 2023
Maze Collective Residency on Albumen Printing, Delhi, 2022
13JARA Collective / Valentina Abenavoli on ZINES OR BOOKS, Cona Foundation, Mumbai, 2019
Raj Lalwani on ‘Bombay by Night’, Mumbai, 2019
Vineet Vohra on Street Photography, IPF Hyderabad, 2019
Studio Goppo / Arpan Mukherjee on Alternate Process Photography, Shantiniketan, 2017
Exhibits:
'All This Weight', Patan House, Kathmandu, 2023
Maze Collective Open Studio at Khoj, New Delhi, 2022
Inception Grant by Art Incept at STIR, New Delhi, 2022
Milaap Foundation Sister Library fundraiser, Ahmedabad & Bangalore, 2019
Bengaluru Pride Carnival fundraiser, Bangalore, 2018
#NowGrowingEXPOSURE, Koramangala Social, Bangalore (curator), 2017