Ace photographer Sudhir Kasliwal shows his love for Rajasthan by presenting alluring shots of the state beyond the desert sands in his solo exhibition ‘Wander Lens’ at the Bikaner House, New Delhi. The fifth generation jeweller and photographer Sudhir has been practicing photography for almost 50 years and his work is dramatic and magnificent depicting the wonders of Rajasthan.A collection of 65 photographs that celebrate the light of Rajasthan and the visual elements, as well as everyday life studies are on display at the exhibition. Where Sudhir differs from others who have attempted to capture the desert state through images is in his willingness to traverse unfamiliar routes. Sudhir has travelled to the heart of the desert, recording the life and journeys of nomads, traced the remnants of forgotten trade routes and marvelled at the architectural brilliance of ancient edifices. Consequently, this body of work is at once a visual archive and an examination of continuity and change in a way of life that remains outside the realm of iconography.“I’m tired of just the forts, palaces and maharajas showing up in pictures of Rajasthan. I’m proud of my heritage, but I think it is the people of Rajasthan, the ones who live in villages, those who work at the various fairs and melas, that make for interesting subjects,” says Sudhir while talking about his photographs.Thematically, many of these photographs remain distinctly dramatic and full of allure. Crimson veiled odhinis shine through as much as sun burnt skins, women washing at a water pond with water-pots, magnificent forts and temples are motifs in the visual culture that have been captured. The salient feature here is the quality of reproductions. Each photograph, reproduced in a large format and accompanied by a caption, heightens the drama of the setting because of its remarkable clarity.Sudhir’s technical prowess is also unquestionable. These images provide a breathtaking view of the stunning, limitless landscape, revealing, yet again, the frailty of human enterprise to master nature. But Sudhir does not ignore the ingenuity of humans to survive the harsh terrain. His studies that blend building facades and individuals seep through in the haunts of history and candour.“A many-faceted nomad with many belongings must roll on, as each facet of Sudhir Kasliwal’s personality hungers for more. Looking at his work in books or in his portfolio, one walks away from his art carrying the seductive innocence of faces, faces, faces : faces loved and left behind, faces that bring us back to his beloved Rajasthan, its landscape and its walls with the patina of history,” states art historian Aman Nath in a foreword to the catalogue.Sudhir’s photographs have received international recognition and have appeared regularly in leading journals world over. He was commissioned by the Government of Rajasthan to shoot aerial pictures of Jaipur for a special brochure to be presented to visiting state dignitary, U.S. President Bill Clinton. In 2009 Kasliwal won accolades for curating an exhibition of 255 rare and exquisite photographs of Rajmata Gayatri Devi at the Jaipur Jewellery Show. In October 2014, Sudhir was awarded the Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh Award for Excellence in Photography by Maharaja S. Mansingh II Museum Trust, City Palace, Jaipur; an apt recognition of having internalized Rajasthan via his lens.Photography for him is a consuming passion which takes him deep into the villages, at times jostling through teeming crowds at folk fairs and often back to his darkroom. “When foreigners think of India, they think Taj Mahal. There is so much more to this country than Taj Mahal. I want them to look at the village folk, their attire, their food, their kitchens and gain some insight into the real India,” says Sudhir.Titles in his photographs too have a sense of deepened distinctions and ideations. The darker studies are as enchanting as the sun light filled brighter zooms. This show traverses both geography as well as architectural splendour as well as portraits in poignancy. With more than four decades of photography behind him with meticulous printing procedures this show takes us beyond desert sands.Wander Lens by Sudhir Kasliwal will be on at Bikaner House, Delhi, from April 10 to April 17.Follow@ARTINFOIndia
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