| |
Londoner
turns to Mumbai stars for style
British photographer Catherine Yass brings potraits
of London’s arterati to Mumbai and will be returning
with filmi photos...
Portraits
is a series of work that I have done in the past four or five
years. As the name suggests, these are portraits of people
in London’s art circles -- critics, art dealers and gallery
owners, who have displayed my work or those people that I
have been associated with - Yass
CATHERINE Yass looks exhausted. Not that the city’s sweltering
heat isn’t to blame, but the primary reason for such
a jaded state is because of her whirlwind tour around Mumbai’s
theatres and film studios. Having shot Shah Rukh Khan (who
she thought was "courteous and extremely generous with
his time") at Film City a few days ago, and just back
from a rigorous photo-session at New Empire theatre, she momentarily
tucks herself into a couch at The British Council, before
she again sets off to fix up another appointment. This time
with Amitabh Bachchan himself.
So, what’s an artist photographer like her doing shooting
Bollywood’s top film stars? Well, she’s just getting
her "art" together for the Indian Triennale to be
held in the four metropolitan cities early next year. "I
have been invited to represent the UK at this exhibition in
January 2001, where artists from across the world will converge
and get to show their work," says the 36-year old London-based
artist photographer. Having been fascinated by the variegated
colours, costumes and the dances on-screen, she chose the
Indian film industry as her topic for the exhibition--something
that she thinks might best represent the country.
Hindi films and the culture are not being entirely new to
her -- she nestles in an Indian dominated community in London.
She has seen a few movies in the past. In fact, our lady just
got another dose of the song and dance routine at the screening
of Mohabbatein, which she thought was great fun, although
terribly long.
Shooting Bollywood’s best isn’t the only reason
for Yass’ brief visit to the city. With already two books
to her credit -- Portraits and Images and Open Spaces, she
had a slide lecture on her works at The British Council recently.
"Portraits is a series of work that I have done in the
past four or five years. As the name suggests, these are portraits
of people in London’s art circles -- critics, art dealers
and gallery owners, who have displayed my work or those people
that I have been associated with," she says.
What is unique about these photographs, though, are the contrasting
colours that are evident throughout her work. All done without
the help of computers and other fancy gizmos, Yass’ photographs
have bright colours which she displays against light boxes
and with the help of a blue negative, to give it an abstract
look. Her latest book is similar in style, except that it
doesn’t have portraits -- just images and open spaces.
Best described as a combination of dreams and reality, the
backgrounds which are at times hazy and merged, help accentuate
the figures and create a sense of fantasy.
But for now her search -- from South Mumbai to Film City --
is on for obliging Bollywood stars. The more the merrier.
Aditya Mehta
TOP
|
More>>>
 Because
Sex does Sell!
NEW
LOOK NANDAN GREETS THE EYE, AS...
Sixth Calcutta fest
gets underway
|
