5 Evocative Photoseries That Caught Our Attention This Week

5 Evocative Photoseries That Caught Our Attention This Week

A picture can evoke a thousand emotions and has the ability to translate onto frames ideas and feelings that are too hard to put into words. They can transpose us to an alternate world and leave an everlasting impression.

We at Homegrown love bringing to you emerging artists and those who have established a niche in alternate genres hidden from the mainstream. In that vein, we have curated a list of photoseries that we can not get enough of and that we know will leave a mark on you as well.

Image Courtesy: Acts Of Appearance by Gauri Gill

I. Acts Of Appearance by Gauri Gill

Having developed her own personal aesthetic by spanning a variety of photographic genres, over the last couple of decades artist Gauri Gill has been revered for her poignant visual commentary on minority communities and is India’s most notable example of the so-called expressive documentary approach.

Her photoseries Acts Of Appearance which commenced in 2015 took place during one of her trips to Maharashtra where she heard about the ritualistic Bahora masks, that is traditionally made in several local Adivasi villages by paper mache artists. These masks are then used once a year in public processions to represent archetypes of gods, demons, and other characters from Hindu and local tribal mythology.

“Gill traced one particular village which was home to accomplished craftsmen and commissioned them to produce a set of masks expressing, in contemporary forms and a new idiom, rasas (a Sanskrit term that refers to the emotions that govern human life), which become the focal point in this collection of remarkable portraits.” says Lola Mac Dougall writing for Der Greif.

You can look at their work here.

Image Courtesy Mukhota by Mehak

II. Mukhota by Mehak

An art, fashion, and design enthusiast Mehak believes in weaving together thoughts, narratives and emotions in a way that allows a space for art and culture to be fostered. Passionate about curating and art direction, her recently conceptualised photo series Mukhota was inspired by art and poetry.

Of the series, she says, “The narrative shows a transition through multiple phases of life, in reference to self. It metaphorically represents and evokes questions around self, karma and rebirth. It lets you experience something deeply layered and lets you think about the possible answers to filling the blanks. Mukhota lets you prospect the divinity within.”

You can look at their work here.

Image Courtesy: Once Upon A Time, A Long-Haired Woman by Arjun Jawahar

III. Once Upon A Time, A Long-Haired Woman by Arjun Jawahar

An art enthusiast since childhood, Arjun Jawahar was always interested in exploring new streams in art. A self-taught photographer and graphic designer, he believes that it’s the stories that excite people and then the art you make that starts taking on a life of its own.

Talking about the series— Once Upon A Time, A Long-Haired Woman, Jawahar says, “Comparing her to the tree that grew up alone in a parched field with no one nourishing or caring for its branches and roots, which is overgrown but nevertheless stands strong, just like her hair, which she has grown since she was a child who grew up alone. Holding her hair in a basket, she wanders around the tree where she grew up with.”

You can look at their work here.

Image Courtesy: Sembarthi / Hibiscus by Wunderhaus Pondicherry

IV. Sembarthi / Hibiscus by Wunderhaus Pondicherry

A unisex, all wear brand that preaches inclusivity, Wunderhaus Pondicherry’s approach has been to be sensitive to the region they work from and its cultural nuances that they incorporate into their visual language.

“We work constantly to tell stories of the region in South india where we belong to and sensitise the general people to a youthful approach to how handloom is perceived. #youthwearhandloom is one of our main brand strategies,” says founder and designer Kedar Maddula.

Photographed and Styled by Prithvi Singh and Nikhya Reddy their photoseries Sembarthi/ Hibiscus explores the concept of masculinity and femininity as being two sides of the same coin.

“Oh how wonderful it is to explore both these sides of our personas,” says the duo. “Both are unique qualities within us. What if we didn’t have boundaries and a more fluid space of seeking and learning? What if what sex you are is not defined by rigid boundaries?”

You can look at their work here.

The Art Of Being Unseen by Prabhjott

V. The Art Of Being Unseen by Prabhjott

An image-maker who likes to experiment with concepts around cultures and stereotypes that she relates to or has experienced is how Prabhjott describes herself. Her photoseries, The Art Of Being Unseen is inspired by the idea of ghoonghat (headcovering or scarf).

“There are times when you want to become invisible to the human eye and disappear for the rest of the world to ‘just be.’ You just want to hide yourself or blend in the background. This feeling amplified during the times of pandemic where people just treated me as untouchable even after recovering from covid,” says Prabhjott.
You can look at their work here.

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