The Polish Institute, New Delhi, in collaboration with Anant Art, presented I See You, a solo exhibition by acclaimed Polish cinematographer and visual artist Artur Żurawski. The exhibition brought together a compelling selection of black-and-white photographs created during film productions across Poland, India, Nepal and other locations, offering a distinctive perspective on the people behind cinema.Among those present at the opening was H.E. the Ambassador of Poland, alongside guests from the diplomatic, cultural, artistic and cinematic communities.
Best known for his work as a cinematographer on films including Mardaani, Sultan and Bhoomi, Żurawski has maintained photography as an important part of his creative practice. His exhibition I See You revealed a more intimate side of that visual language, moving away from the finished film to focus on the people encountered throughout the filmmaking process.
Directors, actors, technicians, crew members, local collaborators and unexpected passers-by became subjects of his camera. Some were established figures from the film industry, while others represented the many people whose contribution remains largely unseen once a production reaches the screen.
Behind the Frame
What distinguished I See You was its attention to the human presence behind filmmaking. A film is the result of countless collaborations, bringing together people from different cultures, professions and backgrounds. Żurawski’s photographs preserved moments from these temporary communities, transforming brief encounters on film sets into lasting portraits.
The black-and-white format gave the series a quiet and timeless quality. With colour removed, the photographs drew attention to light, texture, expression and gaze. Rather than functioning as conventional production stills, they stood as portraits in their own right, allowing the personalities of the subjects to emerge beyond their professional roles.
The title I See You captured the central idea of the exhibition: recognition. It suggested a moment of acknowledgement between photographer and subject, a simple act of seeing another person and allowing their presence to matter.
Art, Cinema and Cultural Exchange
Photography has been integral to Żurawski’s artistic journey since adolescence. In 2001, he began Project Z, an ongoing daily photography practice that continued alongside his career in cinematography. This long-term engagement with photography has informed his sensitivity to light, composition and fleeting human moments.
His cinematic career has taken him across Europe and Asia, creating an extensive visual archive of places, people and cultures. In New Delhi, I See You offered an opportunity to experience this photographic practice outside the conventional context of film, while also reflecting the artistic connections between Poland and India.
During the opening, H.E. the Ambassador of Poland shared his appreciation of Żurawski’s work and the way the photographs brought together photography, cinema and human experience. The exhibition provided a cultural meeting point, connecting Polish artistic practice with the wider creative landscape of New Delhi.
The People Who Make Cinema Possible
Ultimately, I See You was less about the films themselves than the people who made them possible. Each photograph preserved an encounter that might otherwise have disappeared once production ended.
Through his camera, Artur Żurawski gave these individuals a presence beyond the screen, creating a visual record of the relationships, personalities and fleeting moments that shape the world of cinema.
I See You was presented by the Polish Institute, New Delhi, in collaboration with Anant Art, bringing Artur Żurawski’s distinctive photographic vision to an audience in the Indian capital.
