This group exhibition of four photographers examines the use of photographic documentation in the critique of sociopolitical structures, cultural practices and institutions. The artists are Anup Mathew Thomas, Gauri Gill, Shankar Natarajan and Vivek Vilasini, and the show is curated by Bose Krishnamachari. Thomas’ subjects range from family and friends to Episcopalian bishops in Kerala, a library in Lahore to dance bars in Mumbai. He contextualises them in larger narratives, predominantly producing works in series. Gill is primarily concerned with documenting communities, identities, and the spaces that a community holds dear. Although seeming to employ classic documentary approaches, she often uses a snapshot aesthetic, as seen in The Americans, or makes references to local vernacular practices, as seen in Notes from the Desert. Natarajan uses archives, various display strategies, and a dispassionate style to focus on themes from everyday life. Vilasini’s works seek to reveal contradictions in socio-political and cultural realms through unexpected juxtapositions of images.
Docu Tour, until 14 August, Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, Gallery BMB, Mumbai. For further information, visit www.gallerybmb.com
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