Kolkata braves the odds to celebrate art & craft at RoopKaar Exhibition – Edition 1.0

Despite political unrest and unseasonal thunderstorms, Kolkata’s passion for art remained undeterred as visitors made their way to RoopKaar: The Street & Style Exhibition – Edition 1.0 at Gallery Gold from April 14 to 17.

While footfall was modest compared to expectations, the event succeeded in creating a strong cultural ripple, capturing the imagination of photography enthusiasts, fashion lovers, and creative minds alike.

The exhibition showcased a powerful convergence of visual storytelling and design, featuring renowned street photographers such as Nathanael Fournier, Einat Atias, Sam Benari, Sven Delaye, Andrea Misurova, Mateo Candia, Somraj Thakur, Gurudas Bate, Jens F. Kruse, Marci Lindsay, and Parvathi Kumar from the 2024 lineup, along with standout works from Gwen Julia, Dov Oron, Einat Atias, Susmita Chatterjee, Sam Benari, and Chetan Dodwad from 2023. 

Amplifying the experience was a curated showcase by local fashion and lifestyle entrepreneurs including Nupur Mukherjee, Shirsha Kanjilal, Arpita Deb, Akta Goenka, Amit Bothra, Debjani Sarkar, Aditi Goon, My Children Foundation, and Shubham Nag—bringing the city’s creative pulse into the gallery space. 

Though traditional media coverage was limited, the exhibition resonated deeply on social platforms, as visitors enthusiastically clicked selfies and created reels with the visual narratives on display.

Abhishek Deb, Founding Member of Street Photography Gallery (SPG) and Director - Rainandini, commented, “Roopkaar 1.0 braved the odds and made a remarkable impression on admirers of all ages. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues, friends, and the local fraternity whose presence and encouragement enriched these four vibrant days of the exhibition. This ambitious fusion of street photography and fashion came to life through the passion and brilliance of our talented participants. I personally congratulate each of them for showcasing their art and craft with such finesse.”

Goutam Maiti, Founding Member of Street Photography Gallery (SPG), shared, “As a founding member of The Street Photography Gallery, witnessing our first-ever collaborative exhibition Roopkaar with Rainandini Diva at Gallery Gold in Kolkata from April 14-17, 2025, was a dream realised. Bringing together 26 talented photographers from 11 countries, this international showcase of evocative street portraits and decisive moments captured the raw essence of human stories through stunning prints and artefacts. It’s a proud milestone for us, celebrating global perspectives and the power of street photography to connect souls across borders.”

Joydeep Mukherjee, eminent Indian photographer, shared, “A perfect Street Photography exhibition organised by SPG World in Kolkata. It was really an honour to be there and enjoy the street POVs from different countries along with different perspectives of the photographers.”

Sarasij Dasgupta, eminent Indian photographer, shared, “The Street Photography Gallery and Rainandini Diva jointly organised their fusion project Roopkaar, the maiden photography & artefacts exhibition at Gallery Gold in Kolkata, India, from 14th to 17th April, 2025. With participation of 23 photographers from across 11 countries, it was indeed an international feat, showcasing some of the best prints. From evocative street portraits to decisive moments- you had them all. I had the opportunity to be one of the Guests of Honour on Day One, participating in a meaningful group discussion on contemporary street photography. Kudos to Deb, Goutam Maiti, Kevin Unger, Victor Shohet, Lil Steinberg, Talya Lewis, Anwar Ehtesham to name a few, who made this happen in the City of Joy. I am looking forward to the next edition. Until then, I wish them success in all their future endeavours.”

Sankar Ghosh, eminent Indian photographer, shared, “Roopkaar stood out to be a really well curated exhibition, with diverse talent. Some of the images were very striking and captivating. Exhibiting a bunch of global talents brought a different approach & style of street photography. This is encouraging to the visiting local photographers as an inspiration.”

Talya Amati Lewis, Hon'ble curator of Street Photography Gallery (SPG), shared, “Though unable to attend this amazing street photography exhibit in person, I had the pleasure of exploring the wonderful works through video. All the photographers submitted images that elicited emotion from the humorous and curious to the more distressing aspects of the streets. The powerful art of street photographer was well showcased in SPG’s maiden show.”

Anwar Ehtesham, Hon'ble curator of Street Photography Gallery (SPG), said, “Roopkaar beautifully captures the spirit of the streets. Truly inspiring work by a group of talented photographers. Grateful to my colleagues at Street Photography Gallery (SPG) for organizing this much-needed exhibition, and heartfelt thanks to the local team for their hard work. I only wish I could see the printed photographs in person. Congratulations to everyone whose work was exhibited and to those who made this exhibition possible.”

Looking ahead, RoopKaar is open to collaborations with sponsors and authorities to take its unique blend of street photography and fashion to new cities worldwide. 

The Street Photography Gallery has also opened submissions for the SPG Awards 2025, themed "Reflections". Final dates will be announced soon. Entries can be submitted via SPG Contests.

RoopKaar’s format—merging the Art of Street Photography with the Craft of Fashion—will continue in future editions, bringing compelling urban narratives and wearable creativity under one roof, wherever it travels next. 

About RoopKaar

RoopKaar is a unique event that promises to transport you into the heart of cities around the globe, capturing candid moments and extraordinary stories through the lenses of the world's most talented street photographers. Alongside, local fashion entrepreneurs showcase their stunning creations, blending street aesthetics with contemporary style.

Whether you're an avid photographer, an art enthusiast, or a fashion lover, this exhibition is a must-visit. Engage with breathtaking visuals, discover unique fashion statements, and celebrate storytelling through both photography and design. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind visual and style extravaganza!

About Rainandini

Rainandini Diva is a homegrown online store recognised by the Govt. of India, promoting Indian Ethnic Fashion for women worldwide.

About Street Photography Gallery

SPG (Street Photography Gallery), a major international award gallery, was established in 2023 as the top curators of several exclusive and private photography communities on the social web felt the need to extend the movement to the open web. SPG’s current set of team comes from a span of 4 countries and the contests on SPG are open to everyone without the hassle of a login window.

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