The Sepia International photo gallery in Manhattan (how apropos) is hosting a Raghubir Singh retrospective through Dec. 30. Singh, an Indian photographer who worked in brilliant color, did for the humble Ambassador what Austin Powers did for the Mini.
“Unlike people in the West, Indians have always intuitively seen and controlled colour… My artistic sense was shaped early by the culture of the Rajputs of Rajasthan.”… it was the dazzling colours of his native state, its hawelis… clothes… and sand dunes that impressed and inspired the budding artist.
Singh eventually settled in the U.S. and was awarded one of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, for his photography in 1983. He passed away in 1999.
Our own Seshu has more.
Wow. The picture you posted is breathtaking.
Hmmmm – I wonder if my love of red and crazy, bright colors (matching is for wimps) is desi-genetic or something?
The entire exhibit is breathtaking. Singh’s use of the car, as a framing tool, as the center of a photo, as the background of a picture, was quite imaginative, and he was really able to show the various ways in which Indians have used the Ambassador car.
The exhibit spent a bunch of time, a little over a year ago, at the Smithsonian Institution’s Sackler Gallery here in Washington. The exhibit’s entrance was graced by the presence of a red Ambassador that visitors could actually get in (and honk the horn), if you wished.
Personally i think Singh’s work is phenominalaly extravagent. the use of real life picturing is mind blowing, in a way that nobody can express! Whoever MD is, i think you are exceptionally rude and not taking the inmportance of Singh’s artwork seriously!! Thank you for you’re gracious time, Much love Sophia x x x x
greetings, i am a creative Director in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates , I am looking on putting a show on the work of Raghubir Singh (1942 – 1999). if anyone could help me by sending me info onto who do i speak with , does he have one gallery that represent his work? thanks a million,
My information about the great Photographer..
Raghubir Singh visited 4 times in Kerala..captured images with the help of Malayala Manorama Photographer T.Narayanan ..
River of Colours is a book on Photography by Singh .
He is always trying to fill the images with colours.
His pictures are always inspiring for any photographer
Superb shot. Always been a fan of your work. this is my simple work http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ghanizaman/NorthEastTripJan2010?feat=directlink Pls see when you can. Thanks Ghani