Indian photography show at London's Whitechapel Art Gallery

A new landmark exhibition, entitled ‘Where Three Dreams Cross’ at London's Whitechapel Art Gallery, gives an insightful view of how modern India along with its two neighboring countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have been shaped through the lens of their photographers.

Over 70 photographers including Pushpamala N., Rashid Rana, Dayanita Singh, Raghubir Singh, Umrao Singh Sher-Gil, Rashid Talukder, Ayesha Vellani and Munem Wasif are presented in the show, with works drawn from important collections of historic photography, including the influential Alkazi Collection, Delhi and the Drik Archive, Dhaka. They join many previously unseen images from private family archives, galleries, individuals and works by leading contemporary artists.

From the days when the first Indian-run photographic studios were established in the 19th century, the exhibition tells the story of the development of photography in the subcontinent. There are over 400 works brought together for the purpose. The show encompasses social realism and reportage of key political moments in the 1940s, amateur snaps from the 1960s and street photography from the 1970s. The contemporary photographs narrate the reality of everyday life, while the recent digitalization of image making accelerates its cross-over with fashion and film.

The exhibition is arranged over five broad themes with works selected from a time span of the last 150 years. The Portrait section shows the evolution of self-representation. The Family segment explores close bonds and relationships through early hand-painted and contemporary portraits. The Body Politic charts different political moments, movements and campaigns, whereas The Performance focuses on the golden age of Bollywood and artistic practices that engage with masquerade. The Street looks at the built environment, social documentary and street photography.

The Whitechapel Art Gallery was founded in 1901 to bring great art to the people of east London. Internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and its pioneering education and public events programmes, the Gallery has premiered international artists such as Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Nan Goldin.