The exhibition Crossings offers a visual journey through the Indian subcontinent, exploring the relationship between 19th-century colonial photography and contemporary artistic perspectives. It prompts viewers to reconsider how images shape history and who controls the narrative.
Crossings is a visual exploration of the Indian subcontinent, juxtaposing the gaze of 19th-century colonial photographers with the perspectives of a contemporary artist. The exhibition delves into what these images convey today, examining how colonial photography, often created to serve imperial goals, reinforced Western ideals and obscured the realities of occupation. It highlights photographers like Samuel Bourne and Linnaeus Tripe, whose works captured architecture, landscapes, and street scenes, often composed to appeal to Western viewers.
The exhibition also showcases contemporary responses, such as the work of Vasantha Yogananthan, who offers a poetic reflection on storytelling and his Sri Lankan roots, providing a modern lens on the complexities of heritage. Crossings invites visitors to critically examine photographic representations, questioning how images shape history and who dictates the narrative.