Images from India

Images from India showcases fifteen of Maria’s favourite images she captured of the people in North India when she travelled there in 2022.
Embarking on an immersive two-month journey through the diverse landscapes of North India, Maria traversed the bustling cities of New Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi, as well as the smaller cities and towns of Srinagar, Pahalgam, Manali, Rishikesh, and Leh. Maria also explored numerous remote villages along the Pavati Valley, some only accessible by hiking trails. Encompassing the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh, Maria’s journey aimed to capture a narrative of India transcending conventional portrayals.

Rather than succumbing to the clichéd depiction of India as a cacophony of noise and chaos, awash with vibrant colours, Maria’s monochrome images sought to peel back the layers, revealing a nation characterized by tranquillity, peace, and an inherent departure from Western norms. Amidst the density, crowds, and noise prevailing in some regions, she still discovered an oasis of calm amid the everyday struggles of life.

Maria was deeply affected by the poverty she experienced in the urban slums in the bigger cities she travelled to. All profits from the sale of this body of work, (excluding gallery commissions) will be given back to the people living in the urban slums in New Delhi, choosing to support the charity, Asha India; a non-profit NGO operating in the heart of New Delhi, founded by Dr Kiran Martin. Asha India directly impacts the lives of slum dwellers, having made a significant difference in the 100 slum colonies in New Delhi, affecting the lives of 900,000 individuals. To find out more about Dr Kiran Martin and her work visit https://asha-india.org.

Cruthú Ó Mhná, Limerick City Museum, Limerick

Images from India, Gallery Asna Clonakilty Arts Centre, Co. Cork