Constructing Personal Archives 2024

The CPA workshop was a turning point for Vishnupriya and Shevang in their journey as archivists. Over the months, they took part in a step-by-step workshop that helped them understand how to build an archive from scratch. The initial sessions focused on what it means to care for collections and their roles as archivists, providing a foundational understanding of archival principles. They then delved into cataloging, getting to know the techniques to describe and organize materials systematically to ensure easy access. These early steps helped them establish a strong base for their work with the Pattani Archives, fostering a deeper acknowledgement for their responsibilities and the structure needed to manage archival collections effectively.

In the next phase, they explored the preservation and dissemination of various archival mediums, with a focus on audio-visual and photographic materials. They were introduced to digital archiving and learned to use Omeka, a documentation tool designed for organizing and presenting digital collections. A pivotal moment was the oral history exercise with Kalpana Bhatt, a senior member of the Pattani family with a deep interest in photography. During this session, they recorded her stories, which added rich context to the photo collection. Her recollections added layers of meaning to the photographs, helping them see beyond the surface. The session highlighted how personal memories bring new meaning to archival materials.

The CPA 2024 journey culminated in the curation of a photography exhibition titled "Through the Frames of Memory: Kalpana Bhatt Collection." This final stage focused on curatorial practices and storytelling through archival materials. With guidance from the CPA team and insights gained from Kalpana Bhatt’s oral history interview, Vishnupriya and Shevang developed a narrative that brought context to the images, revealing the emotions and memories behind them. The process of designing the exhibition allowed them to bring together everything they had learned—cataloging, preservation, digital tools, and community engagement—into a tangible outcome that honored the people and stories within the archive. 

As part of the Collective Showcase, the exhibition 'Through the Frames of Memory: Kalpana Bhatt Collection' traveled from Bhavnagar to Bangalore and was on display at the Bangalore International Centre from April 11 to 13, 2025. Their work was showcased alongside 10 other archival projects from across the country and abroad, each emerging from the CPA program. The collective exhibition 'In Search of the Community' offered the team a valuable opportunity to connect with a wider, more urban audience and the vibrant setting allowed visitors to engage deeply with the archival narratives. On the final day, Vishnupriya and Shevang joined the other participants virtually for a group presentation, where they spoke about their archival journey and the process of curating the exhibit.