The IFA Archive Newsletter #02 | July 16, 2024
In this edition of The IFA Archive Newsletter, we invite you to explore the importance of preservation and conservation with us. From curating historical documents to ensuring digital accessibility, archiving remains vital in safeguarding arts and culture.
The IFA Archive team shares Tricks of the Trade to help you protect valuable collections, and enjoy engaging podcasts and conversations with archiving experts, artists, and scholars.
IFA Archivist Biswadeep Chakraborty delves into the world of digitisation.
WHATS NEW
- The IFA Archive Podcast hosts conversations with artists and scholars as they share their experiences of working with archives, unpacking its myriad meanings in the ever-evolving artistic world and bringing to life a space that is historical, enigmatic and fluid. Listen to episodes with Makarand Sathe, and Anurupa Roy and Ranjana Pandey on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox, and Pocket Casts.
- Spotlight on The IFA Archive showcases the journey of IFA projects. This monthly social media series engages with the stories behind 853 projects that have become films, performances, photo essays and more, exploring the creative processes and artistic interventions of each project. Check out our recent spotlights with Saba Dewan, Chandrahas Yallappa J, Mallika Prasad and Ram Ganesh Kamatham, Malavika PC, Kush Badhwar here.
- Explore the Printmaking Heritage of Bengal with artist Aranya Sengupta, with whom we implemented a project under the Arts Practice programme in 2021-2022. From woodcuts of a graphic novel to Rabindranath Tagore's Tasher Desh in line block method, this project celebrates diverse print methods and narratives of print art heritage of Bengal. Now housed at The IFA Archive, immerse yourself firsthand in this exploration of a unique artistic legacy by visiting the archive.
EVENTS
Date with The Archive is a series of talks featuring artists and researchers across different practices who have used archives extensively for their creative work, to bring to focus the potential of the archive as a significant resource for artistic and scholarly explorations.
The Photographer of the Future is an Archivist was a session with Dayanita Singh and Menaka Rodriguez. They discussed Dayanita's journey with photographs and her relationship with the photographic image, focusing on how she drew from her extensive photographic oeuvre to create mobile museums, books, and objects. They explored how the 'archive' shaped her work through constant editing and transformation, spanning over 40 years and exhibited internationally.
From the Stacks is a series of conversations with artists and scholars around the materials deposited at The IFA Archive at the end of their projects.
Mehfil-e Filmiyana: Kathak and Qawwali in Bombay Cinema featured IFA grantees Yousuf Saeed and Siddhi Goel. They analysed the portrayal of Qawwali and Kathak in Hindi films, utilising diverse archival materials such as videos, audios, texts, and oral histories to enrich their research. Yousuf created the Cinema Qawwali archive, studying over 800 songs to understand the evolution of Cinema Qawwali, while Siddhi explored Kathak's history in Hindi cinema, involving contributors like courtesans and choreographers.
VISITORS AT THE ARCHIVE
The IFA Archive hosts visits and facilitates exchanges with visitors who wish to engage with us. In March, 2024, we welcomed students from Christ University. Guided by Archivist Biswadeep Chakraborty and Junior Project Associate Anushka Matey, the students explored the archive and stack room, gaining insights into its operations and the intricacies of film archiving. During their visit, they participated in discussions and shared a questionnaire with the team to clarify their queries on film archiving practices. Reflecting on their experience, Teena AG, a student from Christ University, shared, "We learned about the difference between conservation and preservation. The team provided detailed and well-organised information for us to understand archiving."
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Explore essential tips and technologies for effectively managing archives. In this edition, we focus on tracking insect pests to safeguard archives.
Essential Tips for Managing Insect Pests in Archives
- Sticky Traps for Monitoring: Use non-toxic sticky traps to catch insects and monitor infestation patterns.
- Pheromone Lures: Enhance traps with pheromones to attract specific pests like moths and beetles.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies: Combine traps, inspections, and environmental controls for effective pest management.
- Grid System Placement: Place traps in a grid to locate and monitor infestations in various settings.
- Seasonal Monitoring: Check traps quarterly to track seasonal changes in insect populations and breeding patterns.
ANOTHER WORLD, ANOTHER ARCHIVE
Screenshot from the LiebesBrief Archive
Explore LiebesBrief Archive, based in Germany and founded by linguistics professor Dr Eva L Wyss. This unique repository holds a collection of over 41,979 private love letters from 64 countries spanning four centuries, with letters dating as far back as 1715 and as recent as 2022 (as of July 2023). Today, the archive serves as a vital resource for studying the evolution of private writing culture. It offers profound insights into writing norms and daily life experiences across diverse societal circles, illuminating the perspectives of individuals, communities, age groups, and genders alike.
ARCHIVIST CHRONICLES
In this edition of Archivist Chronicles, we feature an exclusive interview with Vineet Kajrolkar, Manager of Exhibitions at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP) in Bangalore. Vineet shares his journey from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai to MAP, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities he has encountered. He provides insights into managing exhibitions and public engagement, balancing digital accessibility with digitised materials, and ensuring long-term artefact preservation. Vineet also highlights strategies to make exhibitions inclusive and educational for diverse audiences. For a deeper understanding of Vineet's work, read the full interview here.
STAY IN TOUCH | VISIT US
We hope you enjoyed reading this edition of The IFA Archive Newsletter!
Stay tuned for our bi-yearly updates, filled with exclusive insights. Share your thoughts by writing to us at archive@indiaifa.org or visit in person at The IFA Archive.
We are open to the public from Monday - Thursday (except on Government Holidays) with a prior appointment between 02:00 PM and 05:00 PM
The IFA Archive is built with support from the Indorama Charitable Trust.