Bridging Cultures Through Photography
The Photography Club of India at ProgresFestival 2026, GENOA, ITALY
Following the successful collaboration between Progressive Street and the Photography Club of India through the internationally acclaimed Ikshana International Photo Festival in Kolkata, India, both organisations are proud to further strengthen their commitment to global photographic exchange.
This autumn, that collaboration takes an exciting new step forward as the Official Indian Delegation travels to Genoa, Italy, to participate in the 5th Edition of ProgresFestival 2026.
Bringing together photographers from diverse backgrounds, generations, and disciplines, the delegation represents a dynamic cross-section of contemporary Indian photography. Through documentary work, street photography, portraiture, cultural narratives, and visual storytelling, these artists explore themes of memory, identity, resilience, community, protest, and everyday life.
Their selected works engage with the festival's thematic framework—Visions, The Visual Memory of Protest, and Everyday Family Life—while offering deeply personal perspectives that speak to universal human experiences. From intimate family moments and sacred traditions to expressions of social consciousness and collective belonging, each photograph contributes to a broader conversation that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
The partnership between ProgresFestival and the Photography Club of India serves as an important cultural bridge between India and Italy, creating opportunities for meaningful artistic dialogue and international exchange.
Together, the participating photographers present a rich constellation of voices that reflect both India's diversity and the shared emotions that connect people across the world.
Progressive Street and the Photography Club of India are honoured to introduce the photographers comprising the Official Indian Delegation to ProgresFestival 2026. As photography enthusiasts, artists, and visual storytellers gather in Genoa this autumn, these works stand as a celebration of photography's enduring power to connect cultures, preserve memories, and illuminate our common humanity.
Shubhodeep Roy, Foreign Correspondent & Festival Promoter, Progressive Street – Official Liaison, Photography Club of India Delegation
The Official Indian Delegation - Photography Club of India × ProgresFestival 2026
ARIJIT ACHARYYA
ASBJØRN LIND
DEBOBRATA MULLICK
DINESH KOTHARI
GAUTAM BANERJEE
GAVIN LIBOTTE
KAUSTAV GANGOPADHYAY
MALAY KUMAR DAS
MITHUN KUNDU
NEHA SHARMA
PARVATHI KUMAR
ROHAN BARIK
ROHIT GHOSH
SABYASACHI NATH
SAYANI KUITY
SOMNATH NAIYA
SUBHADIP BISWAS
SURAJIT DUTTA
SUVRAJIT SARKAR
TANMOY CHATTERJEE
Nineteen photographers. Nineteen perspectives. One shared language: photography. These photographs depict the Official Indian Delegation from the Photography Club of India for the 5th Edition of ProgresFestival 2026, taking place this Autumn in Genoa, Italy. This delegation features a talented group of photographers and visual storytellers whose work reflects the diversity and depth of contemporary Indian photography. Their practices communicate narratives of memory, identity, resilience, culture, and everyday life, bringing Indian voices to an international platform for artistic dialogue. Focusing on themes such as Visions, The Visual Memory of Protest, and Everyday Family Life, this collaboration highlights photography’s power to transcend borders and convey shared human experiences. We are honoured to partner with the Photography Club of India, a respected institution that has significantly contributed to the growth of photographic culture and education over the years. Details about the venue and exhibition dates will be announced soon. We congratulate all participating artists and thank the Photography Club of India for their ongoing commitment to fostering international cultural dialogue through photography. We look forward to sharing India’s voices with the world, celebrating photography as a bridge between cultures and generations.
ARIJIT ACHARYYA
Asbjørn Lind
Debobrata Mullik
Dinesh Kothari
Gautam Banerjee
Gavin Libotte
Kaustav Ganguly
Malay Kumar Das
Mithun Kundu
Neha Sharma
Rohan Barik
Rohit Ghosh
Sayani Kuity
Somnath Naiya
Suvrajit Sarkar
Tanmoy Chatterjee
Finally, we would like to present an image by Sabyasachi Nath, the founder and director of the Photography Club of India and a distinguished member of the festival jury. This photograph perfectly embodies the essence we were seeking for the “Everyday Family Life” contest. It was taken in his mother's bedroom, who sadly passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. Sabyasachi reflects,“She was the heart of the house. A charming lady for anybody of any age. The other two sisters are older than my mom. None of them is in this world any more. This was shot some 15/17 yrs back. A valuable document in my archive.” A fitting reminder that photography's greatest power lies not only in preserving what we see, but in safeguarding what we never wish to forget.
The Quiet Bond: This poignant monochrome photograph captures a tender, intimate moment of three elderly Indian sisters sharing a quiet afternoon together. Bound by both blood and a shared history of loss, these widowed matriarchs find solace and joy in each other's company, turning a simple board game into a celebration of enduring resilience.
Attire & Tradition: The women are dressed in traditional Bengali attire, wearing simple white based sarees draped elegantly in the classic regional style. The lack of ornate jewellery and the preference for understated patterns reflect their status as widows, yet their presence radiates a quiet dignity.
The Shared Moment: Seated closely they are deeply engrossed in a traditional pastime. The sister on the left leans forward, pointing gently at the board, while the middle sister peers intently through her spectacles, and the sister on the right watches thoughtfully.
Shot in rich monochrome, the image strips away distracting colours to focus entirely on texture, light, and emotion. The soft drapery of their cotton sarees, the silver in their hair, and the gentle lines on their faces tell a story of a lifetime lived. This photograph beautifully encapsulates the essence of 'Family Life' by highlighting the safety net of sisterhood in Indian culture. It serves as a powerful reminder that while relationships change and partners pass on, the foundational bonds of sibling love can provide a lifetime of warmth, comfort, and companionship.
Arijit Acharyya is a civil engineer working in rural water supply development in West Bengal and an accomplished photo artist recognised by both the Federation of Indian Photography and FIAP. His photography focuses on people, traditions, festivals, and rural life, celebrating the richness of India's cultural landscape.
The Living Canvas of Home: Traditional alpona patterns flow across the courtyard floor, connecting the figures within this beautifully observed rural scene. At the centre, a young woman guides children through a book while family members watch nearby, creating a quiet atmosphere of learning and togetherness. The photograph reflects the enduring relationship among home, culture, and community, where knowledge and tradition are naturally shared in everyday life.
Asbjørn Lind is a Danish photographer whose work spans portraiture, documentary photography, street photography, and quiet observations of life in nature. Guided by a deep curiosity about people and places, his photographs reflect years of travel and a sensitivity to the human condition. Through carefully observed moments, Lind seeks to reveal the resilience, dignity, and emotional complexity that exist within everyday life.
Resilience in Motion: In this compelling photograph, Asbjørn Lind juxtaposes hardship and hope within a single frame. Set against a rugged landscape of stone, tarpaulin shelters, and muted earth tones, the image portrays a community shaped by endurance and resilience. An elderly man stands watchfully at the edge of the scene, while a woman carrying a vessel on her head moves through the background, each figure contributing to the narrative of daily survival. At the heart of the composition, however, is a child in motion. Dressed in a vivid crimson jacket, the young figure bursts through the subdued environment with an energy that immediately commands attention. The child’s movement introduces a sense of optimism that transcends circumstance, transforming the photograph from a simple record of place into a meditation on the enduring vitality of youth. Lind’s careful use of depth of field isolates the child from the surrounding environment while maintaining the contextual richness of the scene. The result is an image that speaks not only of adversity but of the remarkable capacity for joy and possibility to flourish even in the most challenging conditions.
Debobrata Mullick is a former National Champion water polo player who proudly represented both Indian Railways and West Bengal during his sporting career. Beyond athletics, he has developed a deep passion for photography, particularly street photography, where he seeks to document the unscripted moments of everyday life. Through his lens, Mullick explores human relationships, emotion, and the subtle narratives that unfold within ordinary spaces, creating images that encourage viewers to see familiar scenes from a fresh perspective.
The Symphony of the Shared Courtyard: This photograph celebrates the richness of multi-generational family life unfolding within a shared domestic space. An elderly woman, a confident young boy, and family members absorbed in smartphones reveal the coexistence of tradition and modernity. Yet it is the children at play, filling the courtyard with energy and laughter, who become the emotional centre of the frame. Through these overlapping moments, Debobrata Mullick captures the evolving rhythm of contemporary family life, where generations remain connected through the enduring bonds of home.
Dinesh Kothari is an award-winning artist, photographer, and retired Rajasthan Administrative Service officer. With a background in painting and decades of engagement with Indian art and culture, his photographic work reflects a deep sensitivity to everyday life and human relationships.
The Warmth of the Morning Threshold: This intimate photograph captures a mother gently combing her daughter’s hair on the veranda of their mud home. Smoke from a nearby chulha drifts through the frame, filling the scene with the atmosphere of an early rural morning. The image draws its strength from quiet domesticity—the tenderness of touch, the closeness of family, and the dignity of ordinary life. Dinesh Kothari transforms a simple daily ritual into a timeless portrait of care and belonging.
Gautam Banerjee is a business leader, entrepreneur, and photographer whose professional career spans nearly three decades across Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. Founder and Managing Director of Business Brio, he has contributed significantly to the fields of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, including international AI standards development. Alongside his professional achievements, he is an avid photographer and serves as a core member of the Photography Club of India, combining analytical insight with a deep appreciation for visual storytelling.
The Path of Luminescence: In this atmospheric photograph, a shaft of golden light breaks through a dense forest canopy and falls across a mist-covered path. A solitary figure stands within the glow, suspended between shadow and illumination. The image evokes a sense of journey and introspection, using light not simply as a visual element but as a metaphor for hope, clarity, and inner passage.
Gavin Rene Libotte is an award-winning musician and photographer based in Sydney, Australia. Born in Kent, England, and raised in Perth, he studied Fine Art and Graphic Design before specialising in Jazz Guitar at the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music. Since embracing street photography in 2020, Libotte has earned international recognition through prestigious awards and exhibitions, including honours from the Head On Photo Festival, Istanbul Street Photography Festival, Brussels Street Photography Festival, and the APP Reportage Photographer of the Year Awards. His work has been featured widely in books, magazines, and international publications.
A Crown of Flight: Street photography often thrives on chance, timing, and visual coincidence, and this image exemplifies all three. Against a vast backdrop of sea and sky, a distant parasail aligns perfectly with a seated figure, creating the playful illusion of a brightly coloured hat or floating thought bubble. The composition balances silhouette and texture, humour and observation, while the calm horizon anchors the scene. Through patience and precise timing, Gavin Libotte transforms an ordinary coastal moment into a delightful piece of visual poetry.
Kaustav Gangopadhyay is a street photographer whose work explores the fleeting moments and visual narratives of urban life. Drawn to the interplay of light, atmosphere, and human presence, he seeks to reveal the beauty and complexity hidden within everyday environments. Outside photography, he works as a structural biologist, bringing the same curiosity and observational precision to both science and visual storytelling.
Shadows in the Steam: A dense cloud of illuminated steam transforms an ordinary city street into a cinematic landscape filled with mystery and atmosphere. Warm amber light glows from within the haze, contrasting beautifully against the cool tones of the surrounding architecture. As figures move through the scene—one beneath an umbrella, another walking into the luminous fog—they become part of a fleeting urban drama. Through exceptional timing and observation, Kaustav Gangopadhyay turns an everyday moment into a haunting and visually compelling narrative.
Malay Kumar Das is a passionate photographer and traveller whose photographic journey began in 1978 with black-and-white photography using a Mamiya camera. Inspired by both landscape and human narrative, he has travelled extensively across India and abroad, documenting cultures, traditions, and everyday life. His work has been exhibited internationally and published in leading newspapers and magazines, including Anandabazar Patrika. Through decades of exploration, Das has cultivated a visual language rooted in observation, storytelling, and cultural preservation.
The Light Between Worlds: This powerful monochrome photograph captures a performer preparing to embody Goddess Kali, suspended between everyday reality and spiritual transformation. A dramatic shaft of light cuts through the darkness, illuminating the elaborate headpiece and makeup while revealing the sacred intensity of the moment. Surrounded by humble textures of bamboo, earth, and shadow, the scene balances mythology with lived experience. Through this intimate portrayal, Malay Kumar Das reveals devotion, artistry, and cultural continuity within a single, luminous frame.
Mithun Kundu is a banker by profession and a passionate photographer dedicated to creating images that tell meaningful stories. Drawn to themes of culture, memory, and human connection, he uses photography as a medium to preserve moments that resonate beyond the frame.
Echoes of the Discarded Divine: This evocative monochrome image reflects on the relationship between faith, impermanence, and renewal. In the foreground, fragments of discarded idol sculptures emerge from the shadows, their outstretched hands retaining traces of sacred symbolism long after the festival has ended. Beyond them, two figures move quietly through the water, introducing a sense of continuity and human connection. By placing the remnants of devotion alongside living presence, Mithun Kundu creates a thoughtful meditation on the cycles of belief, memory, and life itself.
Neha Sharma is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice spans filmmaking, directing, scriptwriting, poetry, photography, and abstract design. Guided by a deep passion for storytelling, she explores emotion, memory, and human experience through diverse visual and literary forms. Her work often seeks to reveal the unspoken layers of life and relationships, transforming fleeting moments and inner reflections into compelling narratives. Rooted in honesty, curiosity, and artistic exploration, Sharma's creations celebrate the power of art to connect, inspire, and transform.
The Symphony of Clay and Fire: Set within the stark environment of a brick kiln, this photograph discovers warmth and joy in the most unexpected place. A group of children absorbed in a hand-clapping game forms the emotional centre of the frame, their colourful clothing glowing against the muted earth tones around them. The surrounding stacks of bricks and working landscape speak of labour and endurance, yet the children’s laughter and movement transform the scene entirely. Neha Sharma captures a powerful contrast between hardship and innocence, reminding us that moments of play and companionship can illuminate even the harshest surroundings
Parvathi Kumar, born in Canada to a South Indian family and now based in New Jersey, discovered photography through her mother at an early age. Her internationally recognised work has been exhibited worldwide and is celebrated for its thoughtful observation of human life and urban experience.
The Layered Echoes of the Street: In this visually intriguing image, reflection and reality merge into a single narrative. A large advertising portrait overlays a city walkway through a pane of glass, creating a dreamlike collision between commercial imagery and everyday life. A lone pedestrian passing through the scene grounds the composition, adding a human presence to an environment shaped by illusion, memory, and movement. The photograph invites viewers to look beyond the obvious and discover the hidden layers within the urban landscape.
Rohan Barik is a photographer from Santiniketan, currently based in Kolkata. What began as a hobby has evolved into a lifelong pursuit of storytelling through everyday moments, overlooked details, and the beauty hidden within ordinary life.
The Celestial Geometry of Devotion: A dramatic sky filled with textured clouds provides a magnificent backdrop to this vibrant community gathering. Captured from a low perspective, the image combines architecture, faith, and human interaction within a single expansive frame. Balancing monumental space, the famous Jama Mosque in Old Delhi, with intimate expressions, Rohan Barik creates a photograph that celebrates both collective devotion and the simple joy of being together.
Rohit Ghosh is a photographer from Kolkata who believes photography is less about capturing images and more about preserving moments. His work explores life from different perspectives, encouraging viewers to engage with familiar subjects in new and meaningful ways.
The Genesis of Form: This compelling monochrome portrait explores the creative process at its most intimate. A sculptor pauses mid-work, his gaze fixed beyond the unfinished clay before him, envisioning the form yet to emerge. The contrast between the artist's thoughtful expression and the raw texture of the sculpture creates a powerful dialogue between imagination and material. Rohit Ghosh captures the moment where craftsmanship, vision, and creation converge.
Sayani Kuity is a photographer from Kolkata, India, who pursued photography alongside completing her MBA. Beginning with street photography, she developed a passion for capturing authentic human emotions and everyday narratives. Inspired by an opportunity to meet legendary photographer Raghu Rai, she expanded her creative practice and now runs her own photography venture, Yaadein Yard, specialising in weddings, events, and documentary storytelling.
The Swirling Vortex of Ritual: This dynamic image captures the energy and devotion of the traditional Gajan and Charak festival of West Bengal. Through the creative use of motion blur, the movement of devotees transforms into sweeping bands of colour and rhythm, conveying the intensity of the celebration. At the centre stands the towering Charak structure, sharply defined against the sky as performers hang suspended in acts of faith and endurance. Balancing motion with stillness, Sayani Kuity creates a powerful visual expression of ritual, community, and spiritual fervour.
Somnath Naiya is a Kolkata-based documentary photographer dedicated to capturing real-life stories, cultural traditions, and human experiences. His work reflects an honest engagement with communities across India, documenting moments that celebrate resilience, heritage, and everyday life.
The Nourishment of Generations This tender photograph captures a timeless act of care shared across three generations. Illuminated by warm light against the darkness of night, a grandmother reaches forward to feed a young child seated in the lap of his mother. The gesture is simple yet deeply symbolic, embodying love, protection, and continuity. Somnath Naiya transforms an everyday moment into a powerful reflection on family bonds, revealing how affection and tradition are quietly passed from one generation to the next.
Subhadip Biswas is a photographer who enjoys travelling and documenting the everyday life of cities and communities. His work is rooted in observation and a deep appreciation for the small human moments that often go unnoticed.
The Luminosity of Innocence: This monochrome portrait centres on the radiant smile of a young boy leaning against a shop counter. Light catches his eyes and expression with remarkable clarity, while the dark background gently fades away, allowing the emotion of the moment to shine. Subhadip Biswas creates a portrait that is simple yet deeply affecting, reminding us how joy, curiosity, and human warmth can transform an ordinary street scene into something unforgettable.
Surajit Dutta is a Kolkata-based street photographer whose work focuses on the unscripted moments, cultures, and human stories that shape everyday life. His photographs have received international recognition and have been featured in numerous global publications. Through his visual storytelling, he seeks to reveal the extraordinary narratives hidden within ordinary experiences.
The Modern Hearth of the Maidan: Set against the iconic landscape of Kolkata's Maidan, this photograph explores the relationship between family, tradition, and a rapidly evolving city. In the foreground, a family shares a quiet moment while a smartphone preserves memories in real time, reflecting the rituals of contemporary life. Rising above the scene, the skyline and towering architecture provide a striking contrast to the openness of the Maidan and the intimacy of human connection. Surajit Dutta skillfully balances these elements, creating a portrait of a city where heritage and modernity coexist harmoniously.
Suvrajit Sarkar is a government officer and passionate visual storyteller whose photography is shaped by the fleeting moments he observes during daily life and travel. Working across street, travel, and documentary photography, he seeks to capture authentic human emotions and social realities with honesty and immediacy.
The Anthem of the Restless Sky: This powerful photograph captures the intensity of a public demonstration through a dramatic low-angle composition framed by iron bars. Hands are raised, voices seem to echo beyond the frame, and the Indian tricolour waves against the evening sky. Sarkar combines strong perspective, movement, and symbolism to create an image charged with collective emotion. The photograph speaks not only of protest, but of participation, conviction, and the enduring power of public expression.
Tanmoy Chatterjee is a travel and documentary photographer who has dedicated his entire life to photography. For more than twenty-five years, he has travelled extensively across India, documenting its diverse cultures, festivals, traditions, and human stories. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to visual storytelling, seeking moments of stillness, spirituality, and human connection within the richness and complexity of everyday life.
The Infinity of the Sacred Flame.: Photographed during the Rakher Upobash festival in West Bengal, this image transforms a gathering of devotees into a vast constellation of light. Thousands of earthen lamps glow through drifting incense smoke as worshippers sit in quiet devotion at dusk. Chatterjee’s mastery of low light and atmosphere creates a scene that feels both intimate and monumental, capturing the spiritual unity and contemplative beauty of the ritual.