A personal project that consisted of photographing quaint, old doorways and imagining the stories behind them – stories that change everyday with the modernisation of my city, Bangalore.
I was selected to be a part of a photography workshop hosted by Jaaga in collaboration with German photographer and designer, Fabian Sixtus Körner. The theme was Urban Bengaluru and I chose to focus on an area in the heart of the city that is rapidly changing with the old making way for the new.
My photographs along with the work of 5 very talented photographers, were part of a 5-day exhibition in Bangalore. We were also chosen for the Global Pecha Kucha – Inspire Japan chapter where we each spoke about our chosen theme for the workshop.
THE DOOR IN THE WALL
“As his memory of that remote childish experience ran, he did at the very first sight of that door experience a peculiar emotion, an attraction, a desire to get to the door and open it and walk in.”
The Door in the Wall, H.G. Wells
The installation of my photos at the exhibition
Text accompanying the installation
The tiny by-lanes and hidden alleys adjacent to Commercial Street house more than just bargain street stalls. They are cluttered with quaint, timeworn homes guarded by glorious ornate doors, most reminiscent of time-passed and forgotten stories. These doors perhaps allow a glimpse into abandoned dreams, or lay unopened by those chasing bigger dreams. Most are reminiscent of bygone days and forgotten stories.
These photos are inspired by my interpretation of ‘The Door in the Wall’ by H.G Wells. It is a short story about a boy who stumbles upon an enchanted garden as a child, and fails to recognise its worth. He spends a life dwelling in the regret of amassing triumphs with little meaning and not grabbing fleeting opportunities to seek real fulfilment.
My photos lead you to the heart of Bengaluru, past beautiful entrances that are normally not spared a second glance. I believe every door once hid someone's magical garden.
And, maybe if we slow down, we’ll notice that seemingly insignificant openings could lead to true happiness.
“There was something in the very air of it that exhilarated, that gave one a sense of lightness and good happening and well being; there was something in the sight of it that made all its colour clean and perfect and subtly luminous. In the instant of coming into it one was exquisitely glad — as only in rare moments and when one is young and joyful one can be glad in this world. And everything was beautiful there... ”
COPY-EDITOR: Megha Ramesh