Bharat Patel :
I am Oxford based travel and documentary photographer. Over the last twenty years I have experimented with many other genres of photography; always looking for new ways to explore photography using different techniques. For me photography has no limits and no rules. I like to explore many of its forms and print my images using different techniques.
I like the notion that a photograph is only complete when it is printed. A printed photo gives a sense of importance and permanence to the subject. My passion is printing photographs in black and white. I often print these using six dilutions of pure carbon inks to bring out all the details and the tonal range in the photo. These carbon ink prints are also extremely archival. But depending on the image I also use a challenging alternative printing technique called Gumoil. This is a technique to print a photograph using artist’ oil paint. It produces one-of-a-kind painterly prints which are extremely grainy and textured.
For Art Weeks I will be exhibiting a number of these black and white prints together with my images of Recurring Dreams of Oxford. These later are a series of blended images depicting the “illusionary” experiences of dreams.

Kashmira Patel
I love to work with my hands - infusing life and strength into the ceramics I create. My forms abound with strength and energy, and organically goes with the 'flow' - as I like to play with the clay and let it take form with shapes and textures as I go along. My creations stem from a single idea in mind, in a process that is not methodical, led by the heart and feelings. Aiming to be imperfectly perfect, with rough and smooth textures, my works are tactile, symbolic, and intriguing to the viewer.

My passion with clay evolved after many years of brush stroking techniques on bisque ware. I love creating organic forms, defying the normal structures of figurines, bowls or any other daily use items..
I find that working with oxides, greens and blues give me a great sense of staying connected to the earth and water and my works emerge as grounded and minimal pieces that meld with nature. Groggy surfaces that contrast with smooth and crackle glazes. My inspiration also comes from the Japanese philosophy of ‘wabi-sabi’ –‘ imperfectly perfect’.