Happiness, diversity, hardship, innocence, divinity, soul, strength, religion, tradition… This is life for Lona Logan. And Lona aptly portrays ‘life’ in her seven years in India through her 51 frames in a month-long photography exhibition called ‘Yeh Mera Bharath’ at Novotel Hyderabad Airport.
So Lona’s tryst with India happened when she came to India seven years back? “Not really. My best friend in Australia is an Indian and I have almost grown up in their home. So, the culture, practise, food and people are familiar to me. When I came to India I had no pre-conceived notion, as the country and its people had already made a positive imprint on my mind, which was further strengthened when I started living here. During my seven years in the country I have travelled a lot and seen a lot of place, starting from Delhi, Agra to Goa, Mysore and beyond. To remember the various places I visited in and around the various states, I took pictures of life around me; I prefer them to posed pictures near tourist sites,” says Lona.
Lona’s exhibition is about people and their dwellings, the India which is not all about coffee shops and mall shopping. In her attempt to capture people she has also captured culture and traditions. “The rough edges of buildings which gives you the smell of the old world charm and speak of the life it has led. I have captured a lot of buildings which tells a thousand stories to me,” says Lona.
In the photo exhibition, however, Lona has mostly highlighted the life she has seen around her in Hyderabad. “I never thought of a photo exhibition, but when the offer came I agreed as I had more time to devote. I got working on my project and once again I felt I should show the life around Hyderabad. For this project I chose to take pictures around buildings under construction and pay tribute to the hard work of the women workers. They work at par with the men and I have great respect for their hard work to provide a decent meal for their kids,” says Lona.
Lona is pleased that 12 of the 51 frames have been sold and she feels it is a way of the people appreciating the feelings behind her work and the subject. “I will do a few more,” promises Lona.
