New Photo Exhibit Captures 150 Years of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

By Sara Elghobashy

February 8, 2010

Ever wish you could take a look back through history? The advent of photography has offered us a limited glimpse into the past, but just like historical narratives, photographs present a unique point of view that influences the observer. But what happens when various artistic points of view are brought together in the same space?

A new exhibition at England’s Whitechapel Gallery aims to present a multitude of unique perspectives about the development of South Asia throughout the past 150 years. Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Years of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh documents Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi history through 400 photographs taken by 70 photographers observing the changing subcontinent. A combination of amateur, street and professional photos capturing key political movements and everyday life provides an interesting opportunity to experience history through the lens of photographers, without focusing on one narrative alone.

The exhibit has been arranged by themes. The Body Politic examines political moments, movements and campaigns. The Performance focuses on artistic practices including representations of the golden age of Bollywood, circus performers and masquerade. The Family includes hand-painted and contemporary explorations of relationships. The Portrait shows the change in self-representation through the years and The Street examines built environments, social documentary and street photography.

The exhibition not only allows visitors to examine history, but perhaps even more interestingly, it displays several types of photographs, from digital to old black and white photos, among painted portraits and short films, to document the evolution of how we capture moments in life. It features the work of Pushpamala N., Rashid Rana, Dayanita Singh, Raghubir Singh, Umrao Singh Sher-Gil, Rashid Talukder, Ayesha Vellani and Munem Wasif, as well as that of individuals with private family collections.

For those of you lucky enough to check out the exhibit, it will run until April 11, 2010 at the Whitechapel Gallery in London.