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This is an archive article published on January 7, 1998

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Algis Kemezys, a photographer from Canada, is lyrical about his divine love -- the holy bovine of India. He fell for them while perched on a...

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Algis Kemezys, a photographer from Canada, is lyrical about his divine love 8212; the holy bovine of India. He fell for them while perched on a camel during a Rajasthan safari in 1993.

The night was awash with stars and the light from the sky suddenly formed a sort of halo around a family of four grooming a cow. And that was all it took. quot;It was like I had never noticed a cow before,quot; he exults. After that he has been back five times to capture these cows on camera. The result is an exhibition of 60 black and white cowscapes culled from 130 photographs.

He has traversed the country and shot them in all possible positions 8212; though he regrets he hasn8217;t yet managed a proper gowshalla shot. A strange fascination and there seems to be no end of it in sight, quot;I am convinced that I am a vehicle for the holy cow. They are the most gentle and friendly creatures and unfortunately humans are forgetting that cows are their best friends. They can even sense what is going on in our minds,quot; he says.

Kemezys has given up beef and incidents like the time he broke his tooth while eating a beef burger have convinced him that he and cows go back a long, long way. quot;I8217;ll switch on the TV and the host of the show will be exclaiming, Holy Cow!8217;, or in a department store, I8217;ll turn the page of a brochure and out pops a picture of a cow. I get these signs whenever the slightest doubt comes into my mind,quot; he says. quot;Cowsmic consciousnessquot; is the only way for this photographer.

At Piramal Gallery, NCPA till January 14, 1998. Time: 11.00 am to 7.00 pm.

 

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