A Visual Exploration of Spiritualism through Raghu Rai's Lens
Creating a document that explores the theme of spiritualism as depicted in Raghu Rai's "A Thousand Lives" exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Delhi. Raghu Rai's photographs are known to capture the essence of Indian society, and this project aims to analyze how his work portrays the stark realities of social class and economic disparity whilst keeping the aspects of religion in mind; Rai himself was a spiritualist.
"Life’s longing for itself- that is what I feel my photograph should reflect. Closer home, we have the divine concept of darshan, which is very precious to me. Darshan is not merely seeing a particular person or place, but the experiencing of the reality of a place, a person, the physical and the inner aura, reflected in its entirely- that is darshan. That is what I feel great photography is all about. " - Raghu Rai
Collation of visuals from various forms of media like photographs (including Rai's work), paintings, advertisements, and media representations. Ensuring a balanced representation of both explicit and implicit portrayals of syncretism. Analyzing the semiotics within the visuals. For instance, a wall portrayed full of various deities might depict a sort of closeness to the god yet the syncretism of staying under one roof.
This project encourages a deeper understanding of spiritualism through the lens of Raghu Rai's photography and various visual media. By analyzing both implicit and explicit meanings, this bento-format document serves as a powerful commentary on the social realities captured in Rai's work.
