Monsoon season is a time of reflection, intimacy, and slow transformation. Inspired by its rhythms, curators Karan Suri Talwar of Harkat Studios and Anshika Varma of Offset Projects collaborated with TRI Art & Culture to create Monsoon Rooms — two spaces designed for thoughtful, durational engagement with lens-based practices.

In celebration of the culmination of this inaugural programme, Exchanging Notes brings both curators back to Kolkata for a conversation on the role of independent and alternative spaces as vital platforms for community, experimentation, and collective praxis. Moderated by Uma Ray, Curator at Birla Academy of Art & Culture, the discussion explores how movement, stillness, and sensory activation as curatorial tools can nurture deeper connections between artists and audiences.

Drawing on their unique yet overlapping journeys, Anshika and Karan will share insights into building responsive, artist-led ecosystems that challenge convention and prioritize grassroots collaboration. This TRI Talk is an invitation to reflect on the necessity of independent cultural spaces in shaping India’s evolving contemporary landscape.