open the door

When Jyotica Sikand organised an exhibition,“Late Bloomers”,in 2003 for three women aged above 50 who were hesitant to showcase their paintings and sculptures,she didn’t think her own leisure pursuit of photography warranted an exhibition. However,six years later,after enrolling in a photography course and experimenting with the lens,Sikand is exhibiting her work for the first time at the India Habitat Centre. “Something that started as a hobby has become creatively satisfying for me,it is almost surreal,” says Sikand,60. Her exhibition is a collection of 81 photos,based on the theme of doors,which she has clicked all over the world,from Gaudi’s doorways in Barcelona to Jama Masjid’s arches in Delhi. “I’ve shot over a period of six years,” she says. Sikand spent time in Spain and Uzbekistan,apart from Ladakh and Goa. But why doors? “I’m a Jim Morrison fan. Doors appeal to me,” she grins. Look out for a shot with riders in a storm. The exhibition is on at IHC till May 7.