Maps, 2008 [from "Little Indian Still Lifes"]
© Michael Bühler-Rose
Michael Bühler-Rose (guest editor of Lay Flat 02: Meta) just updated his website with more work in addition to his previously mentioned Constructing the Exotic series. I was excited to see that he shared some new images from his project Little Indian Still Lifes, about which he writes:
Beyond the beauty of the Dutch Still-life lays the evidence of Dutch colonial power: its imports of exotic spices and goods from India. You can currently purchase any of these Indian imports, plus anything else you can find in the streets of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Chennai, in the “Little India” sections of various major cities of the world.
These photographs feature a mixture of contemporary and traditional items purchased in these “Little Indias,” while referencing the lighting, compositions, and scale of the Dutch still-life tradition. They create an aesthetic experience of near recognition while still allowing disorienting puncture points to come through. Although visually similar to the Dutch still-life, these pictures do not evidence Western colonial power but rather a reverse of power, of India settling the West.
For those of you in New York: AA Bronson of Printed Matter curated what looks to be a fantastic exhibition at the Institute for Art, Religion and Social Justice (where Bronson is the Artistic Director) entitled Compassion. On display will be Michael’s powerful video piece I’ll Worship You and You’ll Worship Me, which I highly recommend viewing while it’s up. A reception for this show will be held Thursday, November 19th from 6–8pm.
