The streets of Shahjahanabad might have decayed after the fall of the Mughal Empire (post the revolution in 1875) but Kashmir-based photographer, Saqib Mumtaz has revived its charm through his ongoing photo project. Known for its busy markets and its enthralling architecture, Shah Jahan’s kingdom was indeed a space that housed Mughal dynasty’s best kept secrets. Mumtaz’s style of documentation introduces us to a neighbourhood that is much more complex and continues to thrive in the midst of India’s ever growing multiplicity.
Now a part of our capital, this kingdom is busier and more chaotic than ever before. Brimming with character, Mumtaz has captured every surviving essence left from the historic period. There is flash, drama and motion throughout these photographs. He explains, “Living in a city like Delhi, you are continuously bombarded with a stream of images that in a way are documenting parts of city - parks, monuments, markets etc. But this burst also leads to a loss of subjectivity of image. For me, that is a critical aspect of a photograph–the subjectivity of it and how that links back to the photographer.”
With people becoming objects and dissolving into Mumtaz’s monochrome aesthetics, these photographs also exemplify his fascination with long exposures as he has somehow mastered the art of preserving motion. He adds, “I have a growing interest in the exploration of space, particularly movement of crowds. There is some coherence even in all that chaotic motion that is found in most Indian markets. Shahjahanabad, an ongoing series, is an attempt to present that coherence.”
Scroll below to see some of our favorites from the compelling series
if you enjoyed this, we suggest you read