Imdad Barbhuyan's photographic practice is, to simply put, awe-inspiring. Over the years, the prolific New Delhi-based visual artist and storyteller has created several contemplative bodies of work that explore the themes of melancholia, memory, intimacy, and desire through the lyricism of the ordinary and the mundane with an aim to encourage a deeper and more sensitive understanding of our relationship with the natural world.
Rooted in the deeply personal, Barbhuyan's recent project 'I Watched My Mother Cry', is a meditation on the intimate bond between motherhood and the planet. Intertwining feminine grief with the grief of ongoing planetary crises that mirror each other in their shared experiences of grief, fragility, resilience, and the cycles of loss and renewal, Barbhuyan's project invites reflection on the ways in which we experience and remember motherhood, and how these personal experiences are echoed in our relationship with the planet.
Barbhuyan uses the three classical elements from Indian philosophy — Earth, Water, and Air — as their chosen media to initiate a dialogue with the natural world that delves into the interconnectedness of our existence, where the body is both an archive and a landscape. Through this body of work produced over a three-year period between 2021 and 2024, they contemplate about the cyclical nature of time, the impermanence of life, and the intricate relationship between care, sustenance, and destruction.
"I often wish I could meet my mother when she was younger and be a friend to her. Through this piece, I bridge this gap and try to create a moment where we both meet when we’re the same age. (...) I see myself in her and I see glimpses of her in me. We might be two different beings but we are connected by the breath of life that she gave me."Imdad Barbhuyan
"The Earth grieves, just as my mother grieves," Barbhuyan says in their statement. "Through these elemental pieces, I explore maternal grief both as a burden and a bridge — a pathway to honouring the profound resilience of mothers and the Earth".
'I Watched My Mother Cry' was produced and exhibited as part of Imdad Barbhuyan's residency with L'AiR Arts Association, in Paris, France.
About the artist:
New Delhi-based visual artist Imdad Barbhuyan creates atmospheric and intimate scenes by bringing out the poetry in the ordinary and the mundane. Exploring themes of melancholia, memory, desire, and intimacy, they create a dream-like world that inspires contemplation and encourages a deeper connection with the natural world.
Follow Imdad Barbhuyan here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
5 Homegrown Photographers Who Laid Bare The Spirit Of The Zeitgeist In 2024
Faith and Death: Rikrivu Banerjee's Photoseries The Duality Of Life In Banaras
'A Thousand Cuts' By Sujata Setia Confronts The Lingering Scars Of Domestic Abuse