Voyage of the Eye
Krishna R. Malhotra
Image Gallery
Curatorial Statement
Diana Berger Gallery presents Voyage of the Eye featuring Krishna R. Malhotra's extensive photography portfolio dating from the 1970s
through the present.
Malhotra's photographic journey began when he was gifted a Kodak Brownie camera at nine. He found it difficult to move to more advanced work as procuring a quality camera was nearly impossible because of India’s strict import laws in the 1970s. Professional cameras were only available through an import license for professional need and required payment of import duties amounting to 300 percent. By the time he graduated from St. Stephen’s College at Delhi University, he had saved enough money to purchase a Pentax KX from a friend returning from Hong Kong.
Krishna R. Malhotra draws inspiration from world-renown photographers like Raghu Rai, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, and André Kertész. However, In this body of work, Malhotra highlights moments of the everyday through a non-hierarchical approach. Malhotra's photography subtly perplexes the viewer’s sense of time and space, transporting the viewer to a journey of cultural exploration and subject consent. Malhotra’s edited digital files in Black/White and Sepia styles are reminiscent of British photographers from the 19th century who were among the first to document India through photography. His more recent work in color maintains the aesthetic of 1970s India, while briefly juxtaposed with subjects having technology hinting at contemporary times. Malhotra's image distortion series is created with the use of fisheye lenses, adding to his creative use of subject matter.
Malhotra currently resides in Southern California, where he continues to capture geometrical compositions of botanical and architectural subjects to urban landscapes and street photography. His images are taken both domestic and abroad.
Co-curated by Humberto Reynoso and Fatemeh Burnes.
Online Artist Discussion: Thursday December 3, 4:00 pm
Contact: hreynoso3@mtsac.edu
Online Access: Free and available to the public
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