This landmark exhibition gives an inside view of how modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have been shaped through the lens of their photographers.

From the days when the first Indian-run photographic studios were established in the 19th century, this exhibition tells the story of photography’s development in the subcontinent with over 400 works that have been brought together for the first time. It encompasses social realism and reportage of key political moments in the 1940s, amateur snaps from the 1960s and street photography from the 1970s. Contemporary photographs reveal the reality of everyday life, while the recent digitalisation of image making accelerates its cross-over with fashion and film.

The exhibition is arranged over five themes with works selected from the last 150 years. The Portrait shows the evolution of self-representation; The Family explores close bonds and relationships through early hand-painted and contemporary portraits; The Body Politic charts political moments, movements and campaigns; The Performance focuses on the golden age of Bollywood, circus performers and artistic practices that engage with masquerade; while The Street looks at the built environment, social documentary and street photography.

Over 70 photographers including Pushpamala N., Rashid Rana, Dayanita Singh, Raghubir Singh, Umrao Singh Sher-Gil, Rashid Talukder, Ayesha Vellani and Munem Wasif are presented in the show, with works drawn from important collections of historic photography, including the influential Alkazi Collection, Delhi and the Drik Archive, Dhaka. They join many previously unseen images from private family archives, galleries, individuals and works by leading contemporary artists.

the aim of these ongoing Wednesday workshops is to offer tools and support for emerging writers to develop their craft and knowledge-base, share ideas and receive critical feedback from workshop members, in a relaxed environment. This regular workshop is a weekly drop-in for new writers. Each week we address a different area of writing craftwork. The workshop incorporates instructive, creative and critical elements. There are generally several writing exercises, the results of which are shared with the group for helpful criticism; periodically we can also explore work generated outside of the group and offer critical feedback. The overall aim is to strengthen our writing skills, practise techniques with which we do not typically work, improve our artistic range, and so on. Sessions cost £5 including free tea and coffee, and are held on Wednesdays between 1830 and 2030. If you’re interested, you’re very welcome to join us; please email to workshops@nquentinwoolf.com to let us know you’ll be coming.

Want feedback on your creative writing?
Thursdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm
We are a circle of writers who meet every Monday at the bookshop in Brick Lane, E1, to discuss and share our writing and get critical feedback. Each week several of our number present work they are currently developing outside of the group, in order to receive detailed criticism and opinion from the other group members, in a supportive environment. Whilst weekly attendance is by no means mandatory, writers will benefit most from regular attendance, in order to both give and receive feedback.This is very much for writers wishing to pursue publication – you might be professional, semi-pro or just an enthusiast, but you must have some track record of literary creation. Some exclusive facilities are being developed for regular attendees, and, building on Eastside\'s strong track record of support for emerging writers, we intend to publish an anthology of work this year, which will be sold via the bookshop and further afield. There is also scope for those with an interest in performance-based writing to collaborate with external artists to put on shows; we have access to resources that will help. Periodically, masterclasses on topics of interest will be arranged with authors, agents, marketers etc. Writers will be kept up to date regarding competitions, awards etc throughout the year, and will receive an automatic 15% discount on all books ordered via Eastside.Attendees from all genres are welcome (recent input has included work from writers of literary fiction, erotic fiction, horror/suspense, autobiography, pulp fiction etc). Your first session is free; thereafter £5 including free tea and coffee.If you’re interested, you’re very welcome to join us; please send a courtesy email to workshops@nquentinwoolf.com to let us know you’ll be coming.

Every second Tuesday at 9pm the book group meets at a chilled bar in Brick Lane for drinks and literary conversation centred around the fortnightly selection.

If you're interested in attending, please email workshops@nquentinwoolf.com beforehand. Details of the current book available via www.nquentinwoolf.com/workshops.html

Characters drawn from myth and legend, brooding allegories of everyday life, strange, fantastical visions of the animal and natural world: these are the subjects selected by artist Paula Rego for her display of works chosen from the British Council Collection.

Focusing on drawings, prints and photographs, Thresholds brings together 50 works that span the 20th century. Linked by a strong narrative element and a focus on representations of women, they include the intimate, domestic dramas depicted by RB Kitaj, Victor Willing and Cecil Beaton, amongst others.

Also on display are portraits by Frank Auerbach, Augustus John, Gwen John and Chris Ofili, while David Hockney’s etchings bring to life the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales. Organic forms and otherworldly creatures feature in the works of Prunella Clough, Chris Orr and Graham Sutherland.

This display marks the British Council’s 75th anniversary. It is one of five displays presented over one year and selected by guest curators. The final display in spring results from an international competition for curators.