“Selective Sympathy”: A solo exhibition by Sarah Jabbari

Gallery Art Positive is set to unveil its latest solo exhibition, “Selective Sympathy,” curated by Georgina Maddox and featuring the evocative work of Iranian photographer Sarah Jabbari. The exhibition will open with a special preview on July 31, 2024, and will be open to the public from August 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024. Visitors can explore the exhibition daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the gallery located on Old M Road, Lado Sarai, New Delhi.

“Selective Sympathy” brings together Sarah Jabbari’s photographs of the Kashmiri Pandit community. As an Iranian photographer, Sarah has spent years capturing the lives of this community in New Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and other major cities like Bangalore and Mumbai. Her work focuses on how they maintain their connection to their homeland despite being far away.

Sarah Jabbari feels a strong connection to the Kashmiri Pandits because their history of struggle and displacement is similar to what many Iranians have experienced. She sees the challenges faced by the Pandits as a reflection of her own culture’s history. “For me, the Pandits are a reflection of Iran in many aspects,” says Sarah. “Both cultures share a long history of cultural and religious connections, which goes back to ancient times when Kashmir was even called ‘Iran-e-Sagheer’ or ‘Small Iran’”.

“My project is about revealing their true plight, free from the biased narratives often used by society and politics,” she said. “The title ‘Selective Sympathy’ points to the irony of expecting empathy to be limited by nationality or religion.”

In her photographs, Sarah uses symbols like artificial snow and the Chinar Tree to represent the Pandits’ connection to their homeland. Instead of portraying them as victims, she highlights their complex lives as migrants who have left their homes.

When: 11 am to 7 pm; July 31- August 31, 2024

Where:  Gallery Art Positive, Old M Road, Lado Sarai, New Delhi.