About Us

The CPB Foundation was formed in 2018 in response to the growing need for educational and collaboration opportunities in the field of visual art.

Today, the Foundation stands in the midst of the global contemporary art scene on four major pillars: CPB Prism (student education wing), CPB Learning Lab (cross-disciplinary discussions and workshops), CPBx (residencies, grants, and long-term collaborations), and the Chennai Photo Biennale (an international photography festival).

In a world with rapidly evolving conversations on equality, inclusivity, and intersectionality, each wing of CPBF is driven by advancing new and better ways of seeing. These principles are at the core of our efforts to engage our audience with substantive art through year-long programming as well as the grand showing of works at the Biennale.

Drawing upon our own explorations across art and literature, we’re committed to bringing voices and ideas that have remained under-represented and outside the realm of contemporary art into our fold. Through workshops, exhibitions, and critical discourse, our attempts to promote photographic art as a vital channel of representation and self-expression are rooted in bringing together communities via socio-political and socio-cultural discussions.

OUR MISSION
  • Establish the Chennai Photo Biennale as an important contemporary engagement for photography in South Asia
  • Bring art education and visual art literacy within reach of as diverse an audience as possible
  • Provide a platform for Indian and international photographic talent to be recognized regardless of class, caste, race, gender, ethnic background, or sexual orientation
  • Create an ecosystem for visual artists in South Asia by sharing resources, artists, projects, and successful practices with other festivals.
  • Build public-art engagements around photography in heritage spaces, college campuses, beaches, parks, and train stations
SUPPORT US

An organization run completely on donations, we survive thanks to the patronage and time given to us by supporters, donors, and the artist community from across the world. If our work interests you or if you would like to support us in any way, please consider aiding our efforts with a donation! Your support makes all the difference. If you’d like to collaborate with us, write to us at contact@chennaiphotobiennale.com.

TRUSTEES

Varun Gupta, Managing Trustee, CPB Foundation

Varun Gupta

Managing Trustee

@varunguptaphoto

Gayatri Nair, Co-founder CPB Foundation

Gayatri Nair

Founding Trustee

@livefromindia

Shuchi Kapoor, Co-founder CPB Foundation

Shuchi Kapoor

Founding Trustee

@girlinthegalli

Sethu Vaidyanathan

Sethu Vaidyanathan

Trustee

@sethu_vaidhyanathan_

Mukund Padmanabhan

Mukund Padmanabhan

Trustee

@muk22

Tarana Sawhney

Tarana Sawhney

Trustee

@tarana.sawhney

TEAM

Varun Gupta

Biennale Director

@varunguptaphoto

Gayatri Nair

Director of Education

@livefromindia

Shuchi Kapoor

Director of Partnerships

@girlinthegalli

Priyanjoli Basu

Head of Growth Initiatives

@priyanjolibasu

PK Ramesh

Office Administrator

Uday Isaac Gnanadason

Education Program Manager

@i_am_the_real_po

Sakshi Shraddha

Education Program Coordinator

@sakshishraddha

Akshaya Sundararajan

Program Associate

@akshaya._sundararajan

Goldwins Paul K

Project Associate, CPB Prism

@goldwinssunder

Priya Banik

Programs and Outreach Manager

priyabanikphotography

Sagithya B

Programs Coordinator and Social Media Manager

@sagithya__b

Lubnaa Maryam

Graphic Designer

@maryamlubnaa

Sruthee Swaminathan

Graphic Design Intern

srutheeswaminathan

Rangaprasad

Production Manager

@ranga_prasad_

Jagath Kumar

Digital Archiving & Documentation Associate

jagathkumar29

E Vikram Prasanna

Digital Archiving & Documentation Associate

vikramprasannae

Gautami Khanvilkar

Darkroom Manager

gautamikhanvilkar

Anshul Bandhiwal

Darkroom Research Assistant

anshul1.1

Vanshika Vasireddy

E-Commerce Associate

vxnshikxv

Athullyea Padmanabhan

Darkroom Intern

athulya_01

Ayuj Consul

Darkroom Intern

a4.formaggio

ADVISORY BOARD

ATUL MALHOTRA

Managing Director, Evolv Group

FLORIAN EBNER

Head of the Department of Photography at the Centre Pompidou in Paris

GOPAL SRINIVASAN

Chairman, TVS Capital Funds

KESHAV DESIRAJU

Former Secretary to Government of India, Health & Welfare Department

PARUL SHARMA

Fine-Art Photographer, Former Head of Corporate and Marketing Comm., Star TV

PRABHU VISWANATHAN

Businessman

RAHAAB ALLANA

Alkazi Foundation for the Arts

SANJAY TULSYAN

Managing Director at Tulsyan NEC Ltd

SUJATHA SHANKAR

Architect, Author, Convenor, INTACH Chennai Chapter

TARUN RAI

CEO JWT, South Asia

Abuse and Harassment Policy

Chennai Photo Biennale Foundation stands firmly by the #metoo movement and addresses allegations of sexual harassment case by case. We feel great empathy for every individual who has the courage to speak up. We also acknowledge the difficulty to come to reasonable judgements without knowing all the facts. This duality places a great deal of responsibility on public arts organisations like ours.

In order to be able to examine complaints in the best possible way, we have set up an internal complaints committee. In case of any query, comment and complaint please write to icc@chennaiphotobiennale.com