Out of their Village

Within a dark maze, a crinkled, old face with eyes looking upwards lights the way. As you move forward, the large-format images change from the old to the young 8212; wrinkled, convoluted smiles give way to stubborn chins, soft eyes and frank expressions.

Within a dark maze, a crinkled, old face with eyes looking upwards lights the way. As you move forward, the large-format images change from the old to the young 8212; wrinkled, convoluted smiles give way to stubborn chins, soft eyes and frank expressions. Harsh climate and unyielding landscape too surface in the photographs, adding a morbid sobriety to people8217;s expressions. Delhi-based photographer Samar Singh Jodha8217;s exhibition 8220;Phaneng8221;, with its dozen 6 ft x 5 ft portraits, at Religare8217;s arts.i gallery, is a journey into the village Phaneng in the Tinsukia district of Assam, and its Tai Phake people. With just about 150 families, Tai Phake is a dwindling tribe.

8220;There is a political theme at play. The exercise of moving through darkness is to let the viewer experience the lives of the tribal people without electricity or water,8221; says Jodha, 39, who is bringing them into the mainstream 8212; at least through his photographs.

Surprisingly, Jodha began as a fashion and automobile photographer, but on the way he documented the lives of Bhopal survivors and began to balance commercial photography with severe social documentation. He chanced upon Phaneng in November 2004 while driving through the Stilwell road built during World War II, connecting northeast India to southwest China. He spent time at the village, teaching kids and helping build a monastery. Perhaps that explains the relative ease with which his camera seems to have moved through the place, resulting in piquant visuals.

While the guests admired the images in the gallery, outside the chefs doled out traditional Tai Phake food. 8220;The concept is great and the presentation is good,8221; said the photographer Amit Pasricha. Meanwhile, designer Ritu Kumar said, 8220;I have known Jodha since the mid-1980s when we worked on fashion shows. Later, we worked on a book Costumes and Textiles of Royal India.8221;

The works on canvas, available in editions of four, begin at Rs 2.85 lakh, while a set of 16 x 20 inch prints is pegged at Rs 2.5 lakh.

The exhibition is on till December 8. Contact 43727003