Crossings: Photography from the Indian Subcontinent

The Rijksmuseum holds some 1,200 photographs taken during the 19th-century in South Asian countries that were under British rule. They range from snowy mountain vistas to architectural shots to close-ups of people and objects. The museum is now presenting a selection of these works alongside photographs taken by the contemporary artist Vasantha Yogananthan, who provides a counterpoint to the colonial gaze with his carefully staged, colourful snapshots (4 July–12 October). Taken during 13 trips to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, the photographs are hand-coloured prints of stories from the Ramayana. At their best the works playfully challenge our sense of perspective: Drinking (2016), for instance, seems almost like an aerial view, its wash of turquoise resembling a meandering river, but is also a straightforward shot of a monkey on a pole that protrudes from an outdoor wall.

Find out more from the Rijksmuseum’s website.
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