On Winter

A collection of 7 photographs exploring the feeling of wintertime in Germany through the frame of European windows. A 16 x 23 inch brushed-aluminum frame houses a each hahnemühle print. The matte finish print and soft detailing gives the print the visual texture of a painting.

Wintertime in Germany is a lonely time for an Indian wandering the streets. The isolation of walking alone is heightened, by warm light radiating from the windows of homes on the street. I’m fascinated with these large windows with no obstructing grills, curtains, mesh, etc. In India even if someone were to import windows like these, they are ultimately covered by curtains, blinds or bars because of a combination of the weather conditions and cultural differences. Walking by a window on the street in Vienna, it was very likely you could look right into the room. The lack of obstructions allowed me glimpses into the lives of the people living in the houses.

As an outsider looking in, I wanted to try capturing the darkness enveloping each window, freezing a moment in time. After clicking the photograph, I then start working on Photoshop, to enhance the the juxtaposition of the cold outside and warm inside. Darkness surrounding each window frame emphasises a separation between the viewer and the subject.

The series was conceived during my time studying in Vienna, but materialised a year later at the Bangaloresidency- Expanded program in Zentralwerk e.v, Dresden. The project was sponsored by Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan. This site specific project was first displayed at a solo show titled ‘On Winter’ at Galerie Kabinett, Zentralwerk e.v, in Dresden, Germany. It has since been shown at Goethe Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan and Srishti Expo 2018 in Bangalore as well as at Mumbai Wood 2019 and Stuttgart Meets Mumbai 2021 as part of the Keeping In Touch Virtual Exhibition.