In the pursuit of experiencing the colour and culture of India, Devendra Naik, a Mumbai-based photographer has been exploring the country. He's been lucky enough to have captured the nature’s people through the vision of his lenses. People, whom he terms as our ethnic cousins are very much a part of our heritage yet live far away from the hustle and bustle of our urban settings in the lap of mother nature.
He encountered the Drokpas, the lost tribe of Alexander the Great at Dharchik village of Ladakh valley and keenly witnessed the beautiful culture of this secluded tribe. He also travelled to the dense jungles of Koraput and Malkangiri districts of Odisha to experience the lives of few of the most primitive tribes of our country, the Bondas and the Gadabas. He was fascinated by different facets of their culture, tradition and heritage, their sustainable lifestyle which is in perfect harmony with nature and froze his experiences through his photographs.
Each of the images captures the essence of the way of life being lived by these people. Pleasing to the eye, they portray an emotion, their traditional attire or a daily chore, yet underlying each image lays a story that takes the viewers to the world of our ethnic cousins, who unlike us the modern people have allowed the nature to retain its wild originality.
The curator of the exhibition Trupti Naik, Devendra’s better half has been the pillar of strength behind each of his endeavours. Photography became their ultimate passion in the process of their desire to bring back their journey to their loved ones through pictures.
DISTINCT CULTURES, Lifestyle of Our Ethnic Cousins will be showcased from December 6 to 12, 2017, at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kala Ghoda.
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm.
