In an image-driven world, Anuja situates her practice in the elementary aspects of making images. Her work takes shape from the vantage point of Ladakh in the remote roof of the Indian Himalayas, which underpins her camera-less and analog photography, bookmaking, and mixed-media installations.
Ladakh as a lived experience has enabled her understanding of the world as one that does not exist of its own accord, but one that is dependent on causes and conditions. Witnessing the lingering uncertainties of mountain communities against the planet’s ailing health has profoundly informed her practice over the past few years—over which she has committed herself to studying the region’s history, geomorphology, and ecology. As an educator and social entrepreneur at Ladakh Orchards, she also continues to learn from the youth, elders, farmers, scientists, and spiritual practitioners about the interconnectedness of the visible and invisible eco-cultures of the trans-Himalayas.
Anuja now endeavours to create new lenses for the climate crisis to produce visual notes and experiences of the often unpronounced rhythms of nature and their interconnectedness with cultural configurations. Through this, she appeals for a re-imagination of established ways of seeing and imaging life on earth to suture the growing ruptures between fundamentally harmonious coexistences.
CV
EXHIBTIONS
2025
• I can feel it in my eyes, Intervention at The Elemental You, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi
2024
• Ghosts in Machines, Serendipity Arts Festival, India • (extra)terrestrial, NIROX Sculpture Park, South Africa • How does a river breathe?, Verzasca Foto Festival, Switzerland • Critical Zones. In Search of a Common Ground, Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi, India
2022
• Political Statement, LoosenArt, Rome, Italy • Women in Photography (photobook by Katerina Kouzmitcheva), BWA Wroclaw, Poland
2019
• Ladakh Literature Festival, Leh • The Art Book Exhibition (shortlist display), Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, India
2018
• Kochi-Muziris Students’ Biennale, Kerala, India • Confluence & Mega Losar, New Delhi, India • Head On Photo Festival, Australia
2017
• Indian Photo Festival, Hyderabad, India • Odesa-Batumi Photo Days, Georgia • Delhi Art Slam, New Delhi, India • Deep Listening, New Delhi, India
2016
• Contemporary Arts Week, New Delhi, India
2015
• Pukaar : Artists at Work Productions, New Delhi, India
AWARDS, RESIDENCIES & GRANTS
2024
• Artist-in-Residence, NIROX Foundation (South Africa), supported by Inlaks Foundation • Generator Co-operative Art Production Fund, Experimenter • Artist-in-Residence: Verzasca Foto (Switzerland), supported by Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
2023
• Collaborator (Grant), The Chronos Initiative • Toto Award for Photography, Toto Funds the Arts
2021
• Prince Claus Seed Award, Prince Claus Fund
2019
• Shortlist: Photobook Grant, Alkazi Foundation
2018
• Designate Research Fellow, Sahapedia-UNESCO
2017
• Winner: Portrait Prize, Indian Photo Festival
PAPER PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
2020
• ‘Itsy-Bitsy Writer’ • What can writing do for you?–A conversation with writing faculty from across India; Anant Fellowship, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
2019
• ‘Abounaddara and the Syrian Spectacle’ Safarnama–Young Scholars’ Conference; Ambedkar University Delhi
2017
• ‘Through the Looking-Glass of the Viewfinder’ IP College for Women, University of Delhi • Jabberwock: Journal of the Department of English, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi