I walked into the Open Eye Gallery to look at the SONY World Photography Awards exhibition with no expectations and an open mind – I left stunned, inspired and seen.
For the uninitiated, the awards are organised by the World Photography Organisation, and sponsored by Sony. They have run for 16 years, and are one of the most anticipated events in the photographic calendar. There are four main competitions: Professional, Open, Youth and Student – each of which have showcased breathtaking work from international and diverse entries. The exhibition displayed the work of the winners as well as some shortlisted entries, spread throughout the gallery space. Unless you’re a photographer or someone keenly interested in photography, you probably wouldn’t know any of this. I certainly didn’t, which is why I think some of the photographs I saw affected me in ways I had not anticipated.
Walking into the first gallery space which has a lot of black and white work, I was immediately drawn to colour. Works by Haruna Ogata (Japan) and Alejandra Aragón (Mexico) each have a shade of vibrant pink that pulled me in, but told completely contrasting stories. The image by Ogata is a recreation of a still life, while the ones by Aragón told the story of family, motherland, politics and culture, which are anything but still and unchanging.
In the same space, there is a photo by Shunta Kimura (Japan), that, at first glance may look like a boat bobbing peacefully in a lake or river, but is actually floating in a place affected by erosion, landslides and tropical cyclones. It is a reminder that climate change is happening now, and there are people whose lives have already been impacted by it and are living quietly through these serious transitions.
In the second gallery space, there is a series of photos by student finalist Alexander Komenda (Canada) titled ‘Tiramisu’ – a testament to connecting with the people who enhance our living space. The style of it seemed very modern to me, very much like a selection one would include in an Instagram photo dump, with friends, family and food, just being. It’s real life, and a representation of time spent with those who light up our lives. In a similar vein are the photos by Sachi Deshmukh (India), which embody the connection between the past and the present, and those who populate them. It was these photos that made me stop in my tracks. I am certain that almost every brown person from my generation has similar photos of their parents or grandparents, in similar clothes and striking similar poses. I had not expected to see something so familiar being portrayed so beautifully on a gallery wall in a place so far from home. I felt comforted and seen, and it gave me the confidence to put myself out there and represent my culture the way I see it.
In the gallery space upstairs, the photos reminded me to stop and think about this world we live in, and the wonders that it presents to us. The photo by Yiming Yang (China Mainland) shows horses running in a circle on a ranch in Inner Mongolia. The photo makes it look like they are in a whirlwind, which to me is an interesting juxtaposition. It is a representation of stability and instability, a gesture indicating the simultaneous existence of two opposing concepts.
A photo by Ewa Jermakowicz (Poland) focuses on the silhouette of a baby elephant who has managed to escape from the middle of his herd and led it for a couple of seconds, creating a mountain of dust with its tiny legs. A very cute reminder to be brave, confident and unafraid.
The series of photos by Oriel Naxhielly Martins (Argentina) reiterated the messages I got from the other photos mentioned – those of human connection, nature, identity and the power of art. Taken during the peak of the pandemic, Martins states that taking the photos eased the burden of being isolated for someone who thrives on relationships with others. Anxiety caused by isolation was managed through the outlet of art and creation.
I walked out of the gallery with a sense of wonder and awe for all those who create and tell their stories. I want to be like them.
I would conclude with three simple words: Art is Life.
Text: Aditi Shah
Images: Rob Battersby
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