After a successful first edition in 2016, Chennai Photo Biennale (CPB) is back in 2019 and will be spread along the length of the city from February 22 to March 24, 2019. From the beaches in South Chennai to the fishing villages of the north, CPB aims to extend itself beyond traditional exhibition spaces to public spaces and those parts of Chennai that have remained outside the realm of contemporary cultural activities. Conceived as a city biennale, its goal is engaging different communities and generations through exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, presentations, mentorships, and educational programmes. This 2nd edition will be bigger than the last edition with over 100 artists, 300 hours of programming, 45 print exhibitions and 600 mentees!

Chennai Photo Biennale was founded by the CPB Foundation and Goethe-Institut, Chennai in 2016 as a public art initiative in response to the growing interest in photography in India, specifically in Chennai. The CPB Foundation is a non-profit foundation established to promote the medium of photography through various initiatives, the primary being the Chennai Photo Biennale.

Acutely aware of the dearth of spaces as well as suitable platforms for showcasing historical and contemporary photography from India and the subcontinent down south, CPB made its foray in February 2016. As a month-long event, the Biennale installed photographic works in train stations, public parks and galleries spread across Central and South Chennai. Along with the exhibitions, the Biennale initiated an important dialogue on environmental, cultural and economic issues through mentorship, presentations, and films. The first edition of the Biennale welcomed over 100,000 visitors.

To learn more about the schedule of the Biennale, check out http://chennaiphotobiennale.com/