The Multi-Purpose Hall (M.P.H.)
At the heart of Studio A89 lies the M.P.H. space, a versatile, dynamic co-working environment designed to cultivate dialogue, collaboration, and creativity. This vibrant space serves as a platform for engagement with art, photography, and visual arts education. It is dedicated to promoting an exchange of ideas, offering opportunities for both professional and emerging creatives to collaborate, learn, and experiment. The M.P.H. space is imagined as an open platform that welcomes collaborative inquiry and creative work across a range of disciplines. Through participatory programming, such as workshops, art presentations, and community events, we aim to cultivate an environment marked by spontaneity, vibrancy, and inclusivity. We embrace all forms of art, creating a welcoming space for diverse materials and practices to thrive. The future direction of the M.P.H. space includes offering a venue for professionals across all creative industries, providing them with a dedicated space for artistic collaboration and innovation.
In addition, the M.P.H. also hosts a reference section, offering valuable resources for research, learning, and creative exploration.
Past Events
One of the notable events hosted by the M.P.H. space was the Movie Screening held in October 2021 under the Kaladham Projects. The screening featured the film "Art by Jai Zharotia", organised in collaboration with Dhoomimal Gallery. The event, titled "Jai Imprint Edition 1: Remembering Jai Zharotia", also included an Etching Intaglio Workshop, which was organised by the Jai Zharotia Art Foundation and conceptualised by Sushanta Guha. The workshop was graced by esteemed guests, including Mrs. Kanta Zharotia, Roobina Karode (Director and Chief Curator of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi), Prayag Shukla, and renowned art critics Vinod Bhardwaj and Aparna Caur. Through such events, The Space (M.P.H.) continues to contribute to the cultural landscape, fostering a community that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and artistic exchange.
Collaboration as a part of Artist Residency at Shiv Nadar University with
Prof. Kathryn Jo Yarrington (Fairfield University, USA)
Prof. Kathryn Jo Yarrington collaborated with Studio A89 for a month as part of her three-month residency at the Department of Art, Media, and Performance, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence. A Professor of Studio Art at Fairfield University, USA, Prof. Yarrington immersed herself in alternative photographic processes at the studio—working extensively with full imperial sheets for cyanotype, experimenting with new cyanotype chemistry, contact printing, and exploring Gum Bichromate using honey. Her practice also included monoprints, adding to her ongoing inquiry into themes of invisible energy and presence. These material explorations intersected with her broader interdisciplinary work in artist books, archival imagery, and durational practices such as pilgrimage, improvisation, and walking. Her time at Studio A89 culminated in a series of short-term works that not only reflected her first experience in India but also brought fresh insights and collaborative energy to the studio’s creative environment.
Workshop with MFA 1st-Year Students - class led by Prof. Atul Bhalla : Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence
Studio A89 collaborated with the Department of Art, Media, and Performance (AMP) at Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence to conduct an intensive workshop on alternative photographic printing processes. Focused on MFA 1st-year students, the session introduced participants to the Gum Bichromate and Cyanotype processes. These tactile and historical techniques allowed students to explore the interplay of chemistry, image-making, and creativity in analogue photography.
Gum Oil Workshop with MFA Final Year - class led by Prof. Iram Ghufran : - Shiv Nadar University
A workshop for the final-year MFA students from SNU, led by Prof. Iram Ghufran, focused on three distinct alternative photographic processes—Cyanotype, Gum Bichromate, and Gum Oil. Held at Studio A 89 kaladham, the workshop was conducted by Avinash Aggarwal, who guided the students through the technical and aesthetic intricacies of these historically rich techniques. The workshop aimed to expand the students’ visual language by integrating printmaking and chemical image-making.
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Interaction Session with Bachelor of Design program at Students- class led by : Prof. Sreedeep Bhattacharya: – Shiv Nadar University
Studio A89 welcomed undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Design program at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence. Led by Prof. Sreedeep Bhattacharya, the session included a studio walkthrough and an open-ended discussion on historical and material shifts in photography. The dialogue-oriented session encouraged students to engage with older photographic techniques and tools in a digitally dominated era.
Engagements with Contemporary Artists from Leading Galleries of Delhi :
Studio A89, Kaladham has hosted several contemporary artists from renowned galleries. These artists have come to learn, collaborate, and explore varied analogue and alternative photography techniques. Their visits and working sessions continue to enrich the studio’s role as a vibrant site for intergenerational exchange and interdisciplinary innovation.
Black & White Photography Workshop – At Museo Camera, Gurugram :
In partnership with Museo Camera, Studio A89 conducted a two-day immersive workshop on black-and-white film photography in 2023 and 2025 at Museo Gurugram. The workshop, led by Avinash Aggarwal + Aditya Arya, was divided into two thematic days: documenting and artistic approaches to photography. Participants learned film loading, exposure techniques, film processing, creating contact sheets, enlargements, photograms, and chemigrams. By the end of the course, they were equipped with the skills to confidently create evocative black-and-white images.
Cyanotype, Gum Bichromate and Gum Oil Workshop – At Niv Art Centre, Neb Sarai :
Led by Avinash Aggarwal, this one-day workshop explored the expressive possibilities of cyanotype, a traditional photographic process known for its vivid blue tones. Participants used dry flowers and photographic negatives to produce their own cyanotype prints. Hosted at Niv Art Centre, the event emphasized hands-on practice and introduced attendees to the magic of UV-exposed printing—reviving analogue traditions in a contemporary context.
< More info to be updated - site under construction>
