Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Freeze frame

An ongoing exhibition at a new gallery strikingly features innovative images by Raghu Rai and other photographers covering a vast landscape of contemporary history and colonial legacy

INSPIRED EXPRESSION Annu Palakunnathu Mathew pairs photographs of Native Americans with her own self-portraits — in clothes, poses and environments that mimic the older images

Raghu Rai, well-known lensman whose work has won national and international recognition, leads the group of photographers featured in Tasveer's opening season. His two black-and-white pictures bring to light contrasting scenarios: one, an intriguing nude and the other, an equally engaging rockscape. The latter image is heightened by a fascinating arrangement and textured content and induces the viewer to decipher human forms in natural stone seen in a vast landscape. "Rocks formed by the earth, carved by the winds, begin to look like ancient people," says Rai. "The mysteries of life and nature never cease to amaze. An experience becomes a darshan ... "

Bangalore-based photojournalist Saibal Das captures some special moments of circus artists and performers. "... His interest lies not in the world of illusion but in the real one behind the scenes, where living and surviving is far tougher than triple somersaults on the trampoline," writes Nayyara Noor. "Circus life through Saibal's lens reveals poignant human moments."

Fawzan Husain's pictures try to build a magical nexus between illusion and reality based on the scenes created on Bollywood sets; they add their own bit of drama with a touch of humour thrown in. "The air of glitz is present even during the making of a film," says Fawzan, an experienced photojournalist. "Right from the director... to the cinematographer... to the lightman... to the actors... to the motley group of visitors coming from as far as Jalandhar in the north to Madurai in the south — just hanging about waiting to catch a glimpse of the famous stars... "

Freelance photographer Shahid Datawala admits to have been inspired by the pure visual treat of cinema hall spaces and their changing cultures.

The Delhi-based lensman, said to be currently photographing old lingerie shops and architectural spaces in New Delhi and Mumbai and working on a book on abandoned cars, is represented by an image of a hand painted film hoarding, which attracts thanks to its inherent stirring.

Ryan Paul Lobo has effortlessly moved from cellular biology, physiology and molecular genetics to documentary filmmaking; the Bangalore-based filmmaker's offerings have been aired on the National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet, among others. Lobo's wedding images on display have an emotive if intriguing undertone. "The wedding images are the product of my own experiences of love and come from suffering and loss, not just of a companion but also of my ideas of love, fidelity and relationships."

Annu Palakunnathu Mathew's images too are inspired, innovative and technically brilliant. The Associate Professor of Art (Photography) at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston wonders how 19th century photographers of Native Americans (who looked at what they called "the primitive natives") are similar to the colonial gaze of the 19th century British photographers working in India. She pairs photographs of Native Americans with her own self-portraits — in clothes, poses and environments that mimic these "older" images. "I challenge the viewers assumptions of then and now, us and them, exotic and local."

The exhibition at the Sua House located at Kasturba Cross Road (near British Library) concludes on November 4. Telephone: 2212 8190.

Tasveer is an organisation committed to the art of photography and the photograph as art. Its objective is to showcase contemporary Indian photography through its principal "actors" — the photographers — by exhibiting their work with regularity, precision, and joy.

To advise individuals, cultural organisations, museums and corporations interested in investing in photography as an art form and to help them build their collections.

To achieve this, Tasveer archives, documents, publishes and maintains an evolving digital archive through its website and at its galleries in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Bangalore.

ATHREYA

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail