born in India, 1987
balajimaheshwar@gmail.com
Balaji Maheshwar is a photographer and filmmaker from Chennai. He believes that his works are autobiographical in nature and that through his relationship with the outside world, he is able to observe and understand the self. The experience of having looked at death and loss closely and their repetition has made him look at life as one long tunnel through which we pass. He practices Buddhism and uses photography as a reflection on the self. He inquires into themes of trauma, relationship, loss and mythology through his works.
Grants
2024 - Won Honourable Mention in Gomma Grant for "Dear Cinema,", 2023
2023-2024 - India Foundation for the Arts Project and Museum Grant for working with TCRC ( The Cinema Resource Centre) archives
Exhibitions
2024 - Dear Cinema, Angkor Photo Festival, Cambodia
2019 - First Day First Show, Chennai Photo Biennale, India
Education
Selected and Participated in 15th Angkor Photo Workshop mentored by Antoine D'agata and Sohrab Hura, 2019.
Selected and Participated in Experimenter Learning Program Module III: New Directions with Sohrab Hura, 2018.
Selected and Participated in From theory to Book workshop mentored by Valentina Abenavoli, 2018
Selected and Participated in Special K Mentorship Programme with Katrin Koenning and Kosuke Okahara, 2017-18.
Selected and Participated in Urban Water Photography Workshop mentored by Munem Wasif and Ravi Agarwal, 2016.
Selected and Participated in Invisible Photographer Asia Mentorship Program 2015
Selected and Participated in Visual Narrative to Book Workshop with Kosuke Okahara, 2014.
Selected and participated in “To Know One Must Imagine” workshop mentored by Dr.Shahidul Alam, 2012.
Publications
Photo Essay "Dream from their Fathers" in Caravan Magazine, 2020
'Image Deities and Devotees', published in Membrana – journal of photography based out of Slovenia, 2021
*Balaji’s works have been published in Membrana, Caravan, Geographical, Himal South Asian, Tehelka, Hindu and Indian Express.