Thursday 17th – Saturday 26th May 2012
An exhibition of photographs taken from the film ‘Mumbai Charlie’In aid of the EKTA project and Hope Foundation
‘A day without laughter is a day wasted’- Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin
Art Work Space is proud to present ‘Hope Amongst the Ruins’ – an exhibition of photographs from the award-winning short film ‘Mumbai Charlie’, which tells the story of Vijay, a stressed young businessman from the capital who comes across a community obsessed by Charlie Chaplin, in the middle of India’s arid Gujarat landscape. His experience of them changes his life forever as he learns to let go, accept humour and lightness into his life and begins to cultivate a more emotionally aware sense of being.
The exhibition consists of twenty limited edition prints taken from the film, which was inspired by the true story of Dr Ashok Aswani – an Ayurvedic doctor who became captivated by the legendary actor after watching ‘The Goldrush’ at a small dilapidated cinema in his hometown of Adipur, Gujarat. His obsession with Chaplin and the restorative effects of his performance, led to the formation of the ‘Charlie Circle’, an appreciation society, which now boasts hundreds of members.
Adipur was heavily affected by the 2001 earthquake, which wiped out 80% of food supplies and amenities and took the lives of thousands. The ‘Charlie Circle’ has brought hope to this community through Chaplin’s work, bringing humour and focus into people’s lives, despite the scars of the region’s political history and natural disasters. A funny and moving film, Mumbai Charlie was released in 2011 to coincide with the ten-year anniversary of the earthquake and aims to celebrate the story of a town that came together in the face of adversity.
All work in the exhibition is for sale with profits to be split between the EKTA Charity, which works to empower elderly people in London, many of whom originate from the Gujarat, and the Hope Foundation in India. The foundation works in the Gujarat slums where the film was shot, where it has so far built a new school and medical centre and where it provides ongoing emotional support to the earthquake’s victims and their descendants.
Private View, Thursday 17th May 6.30-8.30pm
Art Work Space, Lower Ground floor, The Hempel, 31-35 Craven Hill Gardens, London W2 3EA
Mon-Fri 10.30-1930, Sat 15.30-19.30, Sun 13.30-19.30.
