Showcasing how Chennai and Madras are entangled with each other

Every Chennaiite who loves to explore the city and who has keen interest in understanding the city’s culture and heritage look forward to Madras Week, which is observed in August every year. From walks and talks covering every nook and corner of the city to performances that celebrate the city’s history, it’s a packed week. Exhibitions that showcase various aspects of the city are also a part of Madras Week celebrations in Chennai.One such photo exhibition organised at the Alliance Française of Madras in Nungambakkam is titled - Spectral City: Excavating Chennai From Madras. This particular exhibition showcases how Chennai and Madras are entangled with each and create a unique urban life in the city. The photographs are based on six different themes – Sheltered Dreams, Public Matters, Wasteland, Hydropolitics, Hinterland and Statecraft. The photographs show how Chennai and Madras might co-exist in fragments, but not really in harmony as they encounter challenges of the urban world. The exhibition is curated by Pushpa Arabindoo, who has documented urban transformations in Chennai in the 21st century, and Christophe Delory, a French photographer.