Submissions for the first-ever Open Call Exhibition, as part of the Chennai Photo Biennale Edition 4, will be accepted starting on July 20, 2024. This landmark edition of the Biennale will run from December 20, 2024, to March 16, 2025, and will showcase a diverse range of exhibitions under the expansive theme of ‘Why Photograph?’ The exhibition aims to explore the evolving significance of photography in contemporary society, inviting artists and photographers to delve into the myriad ways in which photographic practices continue to influence and reflect our world.

Submissions are welcome from photographers and artists of all ages and from any corner of the globe. The Biennale encourages the submission of photographic work from a broad spectrum of genres, including but not limited to nature, portraits, documentary, still life, and landscape photography. Artists are also invited to submit lens-based images that intersect with other art forms such as performance, painting, sculpture, music, and literature, thereby pushing the boundaries of traditional photography. Works created using any type of camera, whether analogue or digital, as well as images produced through contact printing or experimental cameraless processes, are highly encouraged. However, it is important to note that images created through generative fill and fully generated images are not permitted for this Open Call.

An international jury of esteemed professionals will carefully review and shortlist the projects and images to be featured in the exhibition. The selected works will be displayed in a prominent public space in Chennai, aligning with the Biennale's commitment to bringing photographic art into the public domain.

Public art has always been a central focus of the Chennai Photo Biennale, with previous editions showcasing photographic works in accessible public venues such as parks, beaches, and train stations. The fourth edition of the Biennale continues this tradition, aiming to enhance public awareness and engagement with the art of photography. The Open Call invites photographers to submit their work without the constraints of a specific theme, offering them the creative freedom to present images that reflect their unique perspectives and artistic vision.

This Open Call Exhibition presents a rare opportunity for photographers and artists to contribute to a globally recognized platform, where their work will be part of a dynamic dialogue about the role of photography in our rapidly changing world.