TCC READING CIRCLE ON VISUAL CULTURE

 

The TCC Reading Circle on Visual Culture is a collaborative space for critically examining how visual forms influence and construct our understanding of the world. Moving beyond a passive reflection of histories and cultures, the visual is interrogated as an active agent in shaping social and political realities.  

 

While our discussions are rooted in the landscapes and histories of the Sikkim-Darjeeling Hills, they also open pathways to broader, cross-cultural dialogues. By juxtaposing local perspectives with global frameworks, we seek to uncover the interconnectedness of visual practices across diverse contexts.  

 

Participants are invited to critically engage with the materials, draw on their lived experiences, and contribute to a collective interpretation of the visual. Together, we explore how visual forms mediate identities, politics, memories, and everyday life, offering a deeper understanding of their transformative power. 

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• 4 sessions over 3 weeks 

• All sessions will be held online 

• Weekly readings and other materials will be shared in advance

• Participants are welcome to suggest their own readings for the sessions

• Open to participants from Sikkim-Darjeeling Hills

• The reading session is FREE

 

 

TCC READING CIRCLE ON VISUAL ART SESSION 2: PUBLIC SPACE X ART

 

The second session critically examines the relationship between art and public space, exploring how the visual redefines these environments and how they, in turn, shape the creation, meaning, and reception of the visual.

 

Through carefully selected readings and case studies, we will interrogate:  

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- How does public art navigate and contest social, political, and cultural frameworks?  

- In what ways can art in public spaces catalyse identity formation, resistance, or collective dialogue?  

- How do colonial and post-colonial histories influence the aesthetics and themes of public art in regions like the Sikkim-Darjeeling Hills? 

 

Participants are invited to contribute their own observations and reflections on public art within their communities for a critical, place-based engagement that connects the local with broader theoretical and practical discourses.  

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