Whitechapel Gallery – Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Years of Photography from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (January 21 – April 21 2010)
5 out of 5
If it seems that London’s cultural landscape is currently infatuated with all things from the Asian subcontinent, that’s because it is. From the Indian Winter season on Channel 4, to the Saatchi Gallery’s exhibition as well as the British Museum, V&A and Serpentine Gallery, 2010 is the year of the subcontinent. And London is better for it. Unlike some of the other venues’ exhibitions which can lack authenticity, the photography exhibition currently on at the Whitechapel Gallery rings true. Partly due to the intimacy of photography as a medium and perhaps because of the inclusion of professional, amateur, and personal works, this exhibition is brilliant.
Over 400 photographs present a full experience for the viewer – black and white alongside colour, political figures alongside anonymous family members and people on the street. Spread over two floors, the exhibition focuses on five themes that encompass the past and present of the Asian subcontinent. With so many good quality photographs on display, it’s difficult to choose a favourite, or even recommend a specific room as the exhibition is consistently good throughout the three separate galleries. On the ground floor, the brilliantly coloured portraits of Nandini Valli Muthiah and the dream-like work of Prabuddha Dasgupta stand out as exceptionally stunning. On the upper level, Anay Mann, Asim Hafeez, Munem Wasif, Tapu Javeri, Raghubir Singh, Arif Ali, and Dayanita Singh’s work make a striking impact.
Most interestingly, the rigidity and formality of the 1940s and 1950s photographs given way to a new freedom of expression. The older works often focus on political figures, while the new ones include a much wider range of people. In the contemporary arena of photography, all the citizens are their own subjects – and that is what makes this exhibition feel so relevant, authentic, and intimate. Not to be missed.
If it seems that London’s cultural landscape is currently infatuated with all things from the Asian subcontinent, that’s because it is. From the Indian Winter season on Channel 4, to the Saatchi Gallery’s exhibition as well as the British Museum, V&A and Serpentine Gallery, 2010 is the year of the subcontinent. And London is better for it. Unlike some of the other venues’ exhibitions which can lack authenticity, the photography exhibition currently on at the Whitechapel Gallery rings true. Partly due to the intimacy of photography as a medium and perhaps because of the inclusion of professional, amateur, and personal works, this exhibition is brilliant.
Over 400 photographs present a full experience for the viewer – black and white alongside colour, political figures alongside anonymous family members and people on the street. Spread over two floors, the exhibition focuses on five themes that encompass the past and present of the Asian subcontinent. With so many good quality photographs on display, it’s difficult to choose a favourite, or even recommend a specific room as the exhibition is consistently good throughout the three separate galleries. On the ground floor, the brilliantly coloured portraits of Nandini Valli Muthiah and the dream-like work of Prabuddha Dasgupta stand out as exceptionally stunning. On the upper level, Anay Mann, Asim Hafeez, Munem Wasif, Tapu Javeri, Raghubir Singh, Arif Ali, and Dayanita Singh’s work make a striking impact.
Most interestingly, the rigidity and formality of the 1940s and 1950s photographs given way to a new freedom of expression. The older works often focus on political figures, while the new ones include a much wider range of people. In the contemporary arena of photography, all the citizens are their own subjects – and that is what makes this exhibition feel so relevant, authentic, and intimate. Not to be missed.
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