before I started making pictures the only photographs I saw were of
the only photographs I saw were of
the only photographs I saw were of landmarks these were images of birthdays
landmarks these were images of birthdays
landmarks these were images of birthdays graduations weddings and holidays
graduations weddings and holidays
graduations weddings and holidays somehow there seemed to be one thing
somehow there seemed to be one thing
somehow there seemed to be one thing common to all these occasions they all
common to all these occasions they all
common to all these occasions they all marked landmarks of a respectable life
marked landmarks of a respectable life
marked landmarks of a respectable life these albums seemed more like calendars
these albums seemed more like calendars
these albums seemed more like calendars in which the same date would be circled
in which the same date would be circled
in which the same date would be circled year after year and then there were also
year after year and then there were also
year after year and then there were also photographs that conveyed a value system
photographs that conveyed a value system
photographs that conveyed a value system of belief political leaders spiritual
of belief political leaders spiritual
of belief political leaders spiritual gurus film stars and the dead I wasn’t
gurus film stars and the dead I wasn’t
gurus film stars and the dead I wasn’t able to perceive these leaders in the
able to perceive these leaders in the
able to perceive these leaders in the pictures at all because all I could
pictures at all because all I could
pictures at all because all I could sense were their public roles I knew
sense were their public roles I knew
sense were their public roles I knew these photographs to be important but I
these photographs to be important but I
these photographs to be important but I also recognized that they were
also recognized that they were
also recognized that they were incomplete or true I clearly wasn’t
incomplete or true I clearly wasn’t
incomplete or true I clearly wasn’t getting the picture either these
getting the picture either these
getting the picture either these photographs weren’t saying a mouse or
photographs weren’t saying a mouse or
photographs weren’t saying a mouse or they weren’t saying what I wanted to
they weren’t saying what I wanted to
they weren’t saying what I wanted to hear I was suspicious these pictures
hear I was suspicious these pictures
hear I was suspicious these pictures were speaking a language I didn’t
were speaking a language I didn’t
were speaking a language I didn’t understand at all and I was certain they
understand at all and I was certain they
understand at all and I was certain they were saying something to me maybe even
were saying something to me maybe even
were saying something to me maybe even about me I just had to know the strange
about me I just had to know the strange
about me I just had to know the strange language when we learn a new language
language when we learn a new language
language when we learn a new language the first thing we try and learn are the
the first thing we try and learn are the
the first thing we try and learn are the obscenity the bad words it’s the first
obscenity the bad words it’s the first
obscenity the bad words it’s the first step to learning anything new
step to learning anything new
step to learning anything new to kind of explore boundaries and
to kind of explore boundaries and
to kind of explore boundaries and limitations like an attention-seeking
limitations like an attention-seeking
limitations like an attention-seeking child I wanted to visually Express
child I wanted to visually Express
child I wanted to visually Express taboos and concepts that I didn’t quite
taboos and concepts that I didn’t quite
taboos and concepts that I didn’t quite understand naturally my initial imagery
understand naturally my initial imagery
understand naturally my initial imagery centered around sex religion and there I
centered around sex religion and there I
centered around sex religion and there I photographed men who were passionate
photographed men who were passionate
photographed men who were passionate about each other hunters who killed and
about each other hunters who killed and
about each other hunters who killed and ate forbidden flesh
ate forbidden flesh
ate forbidden flesh a nun addicted to something that in
a nun addicted to something that in
a nun addicted to something that in other religions would be considered a
other religions would be considered a
other religions would be considered a sin men who found their identity when
sin men who found their identity when
sin men who found their identity when they dress up as women and old lady who
they dress up as women and old lady who
they dress up as women and old lady who wish to live longer than the hundred and
wish to live longer than the hundred and
wish to live longer than the hundred and twenty years she already had I got the
twenty years she already had I got the
twenty years she already had I got the response I wanted shock disapproval and
response I wanted shock disapproval and
response I wanted shock disapproval and come time from foraging laughter the
come time from foraging laughter the
come time from foraging laughter the camera would be my dictionary it would
camera would be my dictionary it would
camera would be my dictionary it would translate what I saw into pictures but I
translate what I saw into pictures but I
translate what I saw into pictures but I would have to compose the sensation
would have to compose the sensation
would have to compose the sensation because this was not a language of sight
because this was not a language of sight
because this was not a language of sight it was the language of perception I
began exploring ideas about the light
began exploring ideas about the light and dark I photographed this blind lady
and dark I photographed this blind lady
and dark I photographed this blind lady who could perceive my presence I
who could perceive my presence I
who could perceive my presence I composed men and their origin I captured
composed men and their origin I captured
composed men and their origin I captured the inner beast
the inner beast
the inner beast I shot warrior communities and I trained
I shot warrior communities and I trained
I shot warrior communities and I trained gentle trees I explored the inner world
gentle trees I explored the inner world
gentle trees I explored the inner world of flowers and outer worlds created in
of flowers and outer worlds created in
of flowers and outer worlds created in the comfort of my studio I would crawl
the comfort of my studio I would crawl
the comfort of my studio I would crawl into three historic caves these were the
into three historic caves these were the
into three historic caves these were the containers of the past
containers of the past
containers of the past fortune telling parents that the bearers
fortune telling parents that the bearers
fortune telling parents that the bearers of the future but the most difficult
of the future but the most difficult
of the future but the most difficult thing to capture was the present because
thing to capture was the present because
thing to capture was the present because it always wanted to escape an instant
it always wanted to escape an instant
it always wanted to escape an instant once myths could never be traced
once myths could never be traced
once myths could never be traced I believe the photographic language to
I believe the photographic language to
I believe the photographic language to be best suited to describe the essence
be best suited to describe the essence
be best suited to describe the essence of the ephemeral
of the ephemeral
of the ephemeral perhaps this is what led me to
perhaps this is what led me to
perhaps this is what led me to photograph people who believe that being
photograph people who believe that being
photograph people who believe that being photographed would rob them of their
photographed would rob them of their
photographed would rob them of their soul these were the tribes in there we
soul these were the tribes in there we
soul these were the tribes in there we hadn’t seen or spoken about each other’s
hadn’t seen or spoken about each other’s
hadn’t seen or spoken about each other’s world we didn’t even understand each
world we didn’t even understand each
world we didn’t even understand each other’s language I wasn’t quite clear
other’s language I wasn’t quite clear
other’s language I wasn’t quite clear about their origin
about their origin
about their origin I wasn’t threatened by the remote region
I wasn’t threatened by the remote region
I wasn’t threatened by the remote region we thrived inhabited as much as being
we thrived inhabited as much as being
we thrived inhabited as much as being confronted by the danger of a
confronted by the danger of a
confronted by the danger of a misunderstanding
my initial photographs of the tribals
my initial photographs of the tribals were silent and careful portraits that
were silent and careful portraits that
were silent and careful portraits that were the result of nonverbal observation
were the result of nonverbal observation
were the result of nonverbal observation it’s only after I started living with
it’s only after I started living with
it’s only after I started living with them that their picture began to think
them that their picture began to think
them that their picture began to think these tribes had a fascinating system of
these tribes had a fascinating system of
these tribes had a fascinating system of communication they will indeed
communication they will indeed
communication they will indeed conversation with the environment the
conversation with the environment the
conversation with the environment the forests the woodland the desert
forests the woodland the desert
forests the woodland the desert everything was alive just as they
everything was alive just as they
everything was alive just as they themselves were alive much as the
themselves were alive much as the
themselves were alive much as the knowledge was gleaned from the forest
knowledge was gleaned from the forest
knowledge was gleaned from the forest and passed like precious heirlooms from
and passed like precious heirlooms from
and passed like precious heirlooms from the generations their homes were an
the generations their homes were an
the generations their homes were an organic outgrowth of the earth we would
organic outgrowth of the earth we would
organic outgrowth of the earth we would cook and share food together
cook and share food together
cook and share food together the tribes would narrate legends about
the tribes would narrate legends about
the tribes would narrate legends about their tattoos they would tell me that
their tattoos they would tell me that
their tattoos they would tell me that everything they wore was symbolic of
everything they wore was symbolic of
everything they wore was symbolic of they believed the animals they
they believed the animals they
they believed the animals they sacrificed would speak to their gods
sacrificed would speak to their gods
sacrificed would speak to their gods their wall paintings would convey
their wall paintings would convey
their wall paintings would convey messages to the spirits of their
messages to the spirits of their
messages to the spirits of their ancestors I traveled and crossed borders
ancestors I traveled and crossed borders
ancestors I traveled and crossed borders with three nomadic tribal groups these
with three nomadic tribal groups these
with three nomadic tribal groups these tribes taught me an important aspect of
tribes taught me an important aspect of
tribes taught me an important aspect of language culture is a language in itself
language culture is a language in itself
language culture is a language in itself language carries meanings beyond itself
language carries meanings beyond itself
language carries meanings beyond itself because its roots and reference points
because its roots and reference points
because its roots and reference points lie and culture
lie and culture
lie and culture to speak is to adopt the culture and to
to speak is to adopt the culture and to
to speak is to adopt the culture and to engage in culture is like knowing a
engage in culture is like knowing a
engage in culture is like knowing a language our tribal ancestors have
language our tribal ancestors have
language our tribal ancestors have carried the knowledge of fire and
carried the knowledge of fire and
carried the knowledge of fire and language to all across the world I
language to all across the world I
language to all across the world I carried my knowledge of the photographic
carried my knowledge of the photographic
carried my knowledge of the photographic language into the world of advertising
language into the world of advertising
language into the world of advertising this is the first time my spoken
this is the first time my spoken
this is the first time my spoken language would come face to face with my
language would come face to face with my
language would come face to face with my recently acquired visual one my images
recently acquired visual one my images
recently acquired visual one my images alone would not speak for themselves
alone would not speak for themselves
alone would not speak for themselves words and images would be carefully
words and images would be carefully
words and images would be carefully curated by creative directors and
curated by creative directors and
curated by creative directors and editors other elements like my dog Rafi
editors other elements like my dog Rafi
editors other elements like my dog Rafi layout design and tags would cooperate
layout design and tags would cooperate
layout design and tags would cooperate with my imagery to construct a symbol I
photographed goddesses and the magic
photographed goddesses and the magic portion objects would define and speak
portion objects would define and speak
portion objects would define and speak of luxury a romance and taste would
of luxury a romance and taste would
of luxury a romance and taste would trigger memories body language would
trigger memories body language would
trigger memories body language would convey brand identity movement would
convey brand identity movement would
convey brand identity movement would declare spirit and urgency my images
declare spirit and urgency my images
declare spirit and urgency my images would acquire a personality that would
would acquire a personality that would
would acquire a personality that would be desired consumed and for their
be desired consumed and for their
be desired consumed and for their commercial photography made me aware
commercial photography made me aware
commercial photography made me aware that intent is an important part of
that intent is an important part of
that intent is an important part of language it is intent that would define
language it is intent that would define
language it is intent that would define and indicate the interpretation of
and indicate the interpretation of
and indicate the interpretation of images a picture speaks louder than
images a picture speaks louder than
images a picture speaks louder than words
words
words I wanted my picture to speak about
I wanted my picture to speak about
I wanted my picture to speak about people who didn’t have a voice either
people who didn’t have a voice either
people who didn’t have a voice either these people didn’t know their rights or
these people didn’t know their rights or
these people didn’t know their rights or they chose to remain
they chose to remain
they chose to remain because they didn’t have a choice I’m
because they didn’t have a choice I’m
because they didn’t have a choice I’m going to share two stories that
going to share two stories that
going to share two stories that represent these kind of people I
represent these kind of people I
represent these kind of people I photographed women for workers in
photographed women for workers in
photographed women for workers in illegal mines of chharia since 1936 it’s
illegal mines of chharia since 1936 it’s
illegal mines of chharia since 1936 it’s been illegal to employ a woman in a coal
been illegal to employ a woman in a coal
been illegal to employ a woman in a coal mine after independence the women
mine after independence the women
mine after independence the women workers who were displaced from their
workers who were displaced from their
workers who were displaced from their job sought employment in unofficial and
job sought employment in unofficial and
job sought employment in unofficial and illegal mines these women workers belong
illegal mines these women workers belong
illegal mines these women workers belong to migrant communities in the bordering
to migrant communities in the bordering
to migrant communities in the bordering there they’re essentially from lower
there they’re essentially from lower
there they’re essentially from lower class communities mainly the balance
generations are trapped in area mines
generations are trapped in area mines there are no employment opportunities
there are no employment opportunities
there are no employment opportunities for women without an education or
for women without an education or
for women without an education or financial resources labor laws and labor
financial resources labor laws and labor
financial resources labor laws and labor unions do not exist in these mines
unions do not exist in these mines
unions do not exist in these mines entire families are contracted to work
entire families are contracted to work
entire families are contracted to work on a piecemeal basis children as young
on a piecemeal basis children as young
on a piecemeal basis children as young as seven are employed in this coal mine
as seven are employed in this coal mine
as seven are employed in this coal mine they put in fifteen hours a day for less
they put in fifteen hours a day for less
they put in fifteen hours a day for less than a dollar these mines are operating
than a dollar these mines are operating
than a dollar these mines are operating in an environmental disaster there are
in an environmental disaster there are
in an environmental disaster there are 70 underground fires that have been
70 underground fires that have been
70 underground fires that have been burning for over a century these
burning for over a century these
burning for over a century these underground fires caused sinkholes as
underground fires caused sinkholes as
underground fires caused sinkholes as you can see in the photograph sulfur
you can see in the photograph sulfur
you can see in the photograph sulfur dioxide and methane below from this
dioxide and methane below from this
dioxide and methane below from this whole day in and day out the houses and
whole day in and day out the houses and
whole day in and day out the houses and mines run into each other
mines run into each other
mines run into each other the mists that you’ve seen this
the mists that you’ve seen this
the mists that you’ve seen this photograph contains poisonous gases
photograph contains poisonous gases
photograph contains poisonous gases there is no compensation for victims of
there is no compensation for victims of
there is no compensation for victims of accidents the entire environment is
accidents the entire environment is
accidents the entire environment is highly polluted 1.4 billion tons of
highly polluted 1.4 billion tons of
highly polluted 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide are the leaves into the
carbon dioxide are the leaves into the
carbon dioxide are the leaves into the atmosphere every year
atmosphere every year
atmosphere every year cancers of the stomach and lungs are
cancers of the stomach and lungs are
cancers of the stomach and lungs are very common respiratory diseases called
very common respiratory diseases called
very common respiratory diseases called many women to die in mid mind the second
many women to die in mid mind the second
many women to die in mid mind the second documentary is about ritual sex slavery
documentary is about ritual sex slavery
documentary is about ritual sex slavery in Telangana in some of these villages
in Telangana in some of these villages
in Telangana in some of these villages pretty Besant girls as young as five are
pretty Besant girls as young as five are
pretty Besant girls as young as five are dedicated to the village temple in a
dedicated to the village temple in a
dedicated to the village temple in a ceremony their marriage to the village
ceremony their marriage to the village
ceremony their marriage to the village temple deity after their marriage they
temple deity after their marriage they
temple deity after their marriage they can never marry a man ever again these
can never marry a man ever again these
can never marry a man ever again these women are called yogini in this
women are called yogini in this
women are called yogini in this photograph a jogini reenacts and
photograph a jogini reenacts and
photograph a jogini reenacts and initiation ceremony by holding mean
initiation ceremony by holding mean
initiation ceremony by holding mean leaves in her mouth in the earlier days
leaves in her mouth in the earlier days
leaves in her mouth in the earlier days the ceremony involved the dedicated girl
the ceremony involved the dedicated girl
the ceremony involved the dedicated girl being paraded naked all over the village
being paraded naked all over the village
being paraded naked all over the village but during these times the ceremony is
but during these times the ceremony is
but during these times the ceremony is conducted secretly in those Javanese are
conducted secretly in those Javanese are
conducted secretly in those Javanese are sacrificed for a variety of reasons it
sacrificed for a variety of reasons it
sacrificed for a variety of reasons it could be to avoid ill fortune to her
could be to avoid ill fortune to her
could be to avoid ill fortune to her family or for the prosperity of the
family or for the prosperity of the
family or for the prosperity of the village in this photograph this jogini
village in this photograph this jogini
village in this photograph this jogini was dedicated at the age of 10 during a
was dedicated at the age of 10 during a
was dedicated at the age of 10 during a drought she’s expected to pray at this
drought she’s expected to pray at this
drought she’s expected to pray at this village shrine every day the rain for
village shrine every day the rain for
village shrine every day the rain for the past 13 years
once jogi knees reach puberty we had
once jogi knees reach puberty we had taken his personal sexual slaves of
taken his personal sexual slaves of
taken his personal sexual slaves of either the village priest or the village
either the village priest or the village
either the village priest or the village headman in many instances the virginity
headman in many instances the virginity
headman in many instances the virginity is sold off to rich men in the area and
is sold off to rich men in the area and
is sold off to rich men in the area and once he dies with her she becomes the
once he dies with her she becomes the
once he dies with her she becomes the three sexual property of the entire
three sexual property of the entire
three sexual property of the entire village regardless of caste class or
village regardless of caste class or
village regardless of caste class or economic status Javanese have to work to
economic status Javanese have to work to
economic status Javanese have to work to make a living in the fields they earn a
make a living in the fields they earn a
make a living in the fields they earn a very very low income they do not get
very very low income they do not get
very very low income they do not get sales to have
sales to have
sales to have sex with the entire village at times to
sex with the entire village at times to
sex with the entire village at times to get paid in time a bag of rice or
get paid in time a bag of rice or
get paid in time a bag of rice or sometimes asari all the Javanese belong
sometimes asari all the Javanese belong
sometimes asari all the Javanese belong to the untouchable community somehow
to the untouchable community somehow
to the untouchable community somehow this doesn’t seem to matter when men are
this doesn’t seem to matter when men are
this doesn’t seem to matter when men are physically intimate with them if a
physically intimate with them if a
physically intimate with them if a Giovanni had a son he wouldn’t
Giovanni had a son he wouldn’t
Giovanni had a son he wouldn’t acknowledge her or support her during
acknowledge her or support her during
acknowledge her or support her during religious ritual and ceremony the jogini
religious ritual and ceremony the jogini
religious ritual and ceremony the jogini becomes the mediator through whom the
becomes the mediator through whom the
becomes the mediator through whom the gods and goddesses speak perhaps this is
gods and goddesses speak perhaps this is
gods and goddesses speak perhaps this is the only time that she’s treated with
the only time that she’s treated with
the only time that she’s treated with some respect in this picture you see an
some respect in this picture you see an
some respect in this picture you see an hiv-positive jogini who was being tended
hiv-positive jogini who was being tended
hiv-positive jogini who was being tended to by her sister who is also a yoga knee
to by her sister who is also a yoga knee
to by her sister who is also a yoga knee sexual diseases are rampant and claimed
sexual diseases are rampant and claimed
sexual diseases are rampant and claimed the lives of many Javanese in this area
even in death the isolation of the
even in death the isolation of the jogini continues this shrine in the
jogini continues this shrine in the
jogini continues this shrine in the photograph marks a graveyard of the
photograph marks a graveyard of the
photograph marks a graveyard of the jogini Javanese are not allowed to be
jogini Javanese are not allowed to be
jogini Javanese are not allowed to be buried alongside a villager so you can
buried alongside a villager so you can
buried alongside a villager so you can see a lot of shrines like this dotting
see a lot of shrines like this dotting
see a lot of shrines like this dotting the outskirts of the village a picture
the outskirts of the village a picture
the outskirts of the village a picture speaks more directly to people than
speaks more directly to people than
speaks more directly to people than words ever will more so even today when
words ever will more so even today when
words ever will more so even today when people are able to share moments ideas
people are able to share moments ideas
people are able to share moments ideas and information more effectively through
and information more effectively through
and information more effectively through the photographic language I want my
the photographic language I want my
the photographic language I want my vision of the world and yours to be
vision of the world and yours to be
vision of the world and yours to be recognized by this fascinating
”
Be First to Comment