ARKO DATTO

Arko Datto questions what it means to be a photographer in the digital age while simultaneously assuming the roles of observer and commentator on critical issues. He pursues narratives on seemingly disparate topics, such as forced migration, techno-fascism, surveillance in the digital panopticon, disappearing islands, nocturnal realms, and the psychosomatic stress of captive animals. Together, these themes form threads of inquiry into the existential dilemmas of our time.

Datto has also been a curator, contributing to the Kochi Biennale, Obscura Photography Festival and the 2021 Chennai Photo Biennale.

  • All
  • Snake Fire
  • Will my Mannequin be Home When I Return
  • Pik-Nik
  • Rail Diwali
  • Shunyo Raja Kings of a Bereft Land
  • Terra Mutata
  • When the Final Wave Hits

Arko Datto aims to use photography to question what it means to be a photographer in the digital age while simultaneously playing the role of observer and commentator on critical issues.

He pursues narratives on seemingly disparate topics – forced migration, techno-fascism, surveillance in the digital panopticon, disappearing islands, nocturnal realms and psychosomatic stress of captive animals to name a few. Although every narrative he explores is separate and different from the next, together they form threads of inquiry into the existential dilemmas of our times. By incorporating and developing diverse visual languages, narratives and styles, Datto pushes the boundaries of both still and moving images.

He was on his way to a doctorate in theoretical sciences before he decided to change course and move into photography. Apart from working on his visual projects, he also enjoys curating the works of others and has been associated with Kochi Biennale, Obscura Photography Festival and the 2021 Chennai Photo Biennale.

Three monographs of works by Arko Datto have been  published; “ Will My Mannequin Be Home When I Return” and “Snakefire”, part one and two of a trilogy focused on the Indian night published by L’Artiere Edizioni and “Pik-Nik” published by Le Bec en l’air.

EXHIBITIONS

2023
Kings of a Bereft Land – Fotomuseum den Haag , NL

2021
Rail Diwali – San Francisco Airport Museum, San Francisco, California USA.

2019
Pik Nik – Galleri Image, Arhus, DK

2018
“Will My Mannequin Be Home When I Return” – Unseen Amsterdam, Presented by East Wing – Amsterdam, NL
“Shunyo Raja” – Photo London, Presented by East Wing – London, England, UK
“Pik Nik” – Nuit De’Lannée Rencontres Arles, France (Projection)

2017
PIK-NIK – Museum fur Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt, Germany

2016
SNAKEFIRE – OBSCURA Festival of Photography, Malaysia
Gangetic Interludes, PONDY ART, Pondicherry, India

2015
Gangetic Interludes (projection) – Voies Off Festival / Arles, France
CROSSINGS – Ballarat Foto Biennale, Australia

2014
CROSSINGS – Angkor Photo Festival. Cambodia
CROSSINGS – Mindpirates Vereinsheim, Berlin. Germany
CROSSINGS – OBSCURA Festival of Photography, Malaysia

2013
Paris: La Vie des Autres – Angkor Photo Festival, Cambodia
The River – Delhi Photo Festival, India
CYBERSEX and The River – OBSCURA, Malaysia.

2012
Realms Nocturna (Solo exhibition) – Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata. India

MONOGRAPHS

“Pik Nik” Published by Le Bec en l’air
“Will My Mannequin be Home When I Return” Published by L’Artiere Edizioni.

PUBLICATIONS

Wired, NEWSWEEK, BBC, Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Vrij Nederland, Mailman Kuvalehti, Le
Journal de la Photographie, Marie Claire, SLATE, MATTER, GUP, NEON, HOTSHOE, COLORS, Lens
Culture, Feature Shoot, Hunger TV, NATT og DAG, National Geographic, Financial Times Weekend
Magazine, The Guardian UK, Foam Magazine, American SuburbX,

RESIDENCIES

2021
Artist in Residency, Lightwork, Syracuse NJ (Remote)

2020
Artist in Residency, Camargo Foundation, Cassis, France

2018
Artist in Residency, Docking Station, Amsterdam, NL

2016
Artist in Residence at Rimbun Dahan, Penang, Malaysia

CURATORIAL INITIATIVES

2021
Curatorial Team for the Chennai Photo Biennale, 3rd Edition

2015
TRUTH IMAGINARIUMS, print exhibition for OBSCURA Festival of Photography, Malaysia.

2014
Curator at the Students’ Biennale, KOCHI BIENNALE, India
PHOTOGRAPHY is PERSONAL at the OBSCURA, Malaysia.

2013
TRANSCONTINENT for the OBSCURA, Mayalsia (projection).

2012
EKLEKTIKOS, an exhibition of contemporary Indian photography at Seagull Foundation for the
Arts, Kolkata.

EDUCATION

2013
Photography at the Danish School of Journalism, Aarhus

2011
Masters in Pure Mathematics from Université de Paris VII, Denis Diderot.

2010
Masters in Theoretical Physics from Ecole Polytechnique, Paris.
Scholarships / Awards

2014
POYI Award of Excellence for Of Colour, Sleep and Dreams
Shortlisted – Sony Photography Awards / People for ‘Cybersex’ series

2013
Danish Government Scholarship to study at the Danish School of Journalism, Denmark

2007 – 2011
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship to study at Ecole Polytechnique, France

2004 – 2007
Indian Government KVPY scholarship to study at Presidency University.
Nominations

2016
Nominated for Prix Pictet
Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass

2015
Nominated for Remote Prize Photography Festival Ireland

2014
Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass

2013
Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass