By Savitha Hira “Vanishing Homes of India” is a monochromatic photographic monologue that peeks into social-architectural history and rekindles one’s reverence for one’s roots… Photo-journalist T. S. Nagarajan’s “Vanishing Homes of India” is a tribute to the world we once lived in – or rather our ancestors lived in. The kind of lifestyles they led, their personal spaces, architecture of yore, and their dress-sense and spatial configurations are captured through the adept monochromatic palette of the photographer’s expertise. The book is clearly a labour of love, Nagarajan’s journey of twenty years, travelling across the Indian terrain, his lens forever searching and seeking out century-old homes that were still lived in. He does not document any specific period, or style of architecture and the like. Instead, his creative lens captures poetic compositions of homes that he managed to gain entry and access to. Every frame plays on the senses with its natural lighting, chiaroscuro elements, deep perspectives and rich history. One tends to see a sprinkling of everything: a hermitage; a palatial home; simple dwellings in Indian villages, handsome mansions… As the photographer says, “I have chronicled their presence not as structures but as events; not as antiquities but as affinities. We need to nourish their presence in the fast-changing scene of contemporary India so that we may preserve the values of a rich tradition.” And pride in our traditional lifestyles and rich cultural fabric does surge to a full heart as one glances through and pauses to read through this coffee-table publication. A hard-bound magnetic fold cover, with silver-lined page rims showcases concise focused text set minimally in the black and white tome; whilst pages of home interiors allude to a bygone era – a fading memory of erstwhile India. “Vanishing Homes…” is a special treat for history and architectural enthusiasts. Publishers: The HECAR Foundation Art Director: Geeta Simoes Editor: Umaima Mulla-Feroze Graphic Designer: Avadhut Parsekar Pages: 144 Price: Rs. 2500/- Available at: Kitab Khana, Fort, Mumbai & Somaya & Kalappa Consultants Private Limited (022 4300 1234) to view images click on inditerrain.indiaartndesign.com
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Architecture, Photography, Architecture Photography, light & shadow, veteran photographer, Vintage homes.,
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