Photographer Brings India to the Spotlight

By: Yasmeen Shaheen
@YasmeenShaheenn

Some say India is a magical, mystical country.

Others are lured to visit – and often stay for prolonged periods – by India’s rich history, its cultures bursting with life and vitality.

An exhibition held at AUC last week tried to capture the beauty of this ancient land.

It showcased Boulos Isaac’s photos entitled The Colorful Lure of India, and distinguished a trend that has strayed from the conventions of other photographers.

“India is a country that embraces different colors, ethnicities, religions, political views, and cultural traditions,” he said.

“However, everyone accepts the other and tolerates any differences. Therefore, tourist attractions were not my priority,” Isaac told The Caravan.

The photos did not follow a certain pattern or have a specific aesthetic similarity. The framing and setting were noticeably different with each shot.

“I [wanted] to capture the multi-faceted nature of Indian life,” Isaac said.

The exhibition, despite not being able to showcase his full work, gained a wide audience by combining diverse aspects of Indian culture and life.

Although he said that he did not focus upon capturing tourist attractions, there were photos of which one was of Taj Mahal and another of Agra Fort.

“Yes, I did not concentrate upon touristic places because the subjects in the photos are the people who are brought to the foreground. I [only] captured Taj Mahal as an indication of the place,” he said.

“It is impressive as it is like a window into another culture. It is something we need in AUC more international exposure, specifically to Asia,” University Archivist Stephan Urgola said while admiring the pieces.

Construction engineering senior Omar El-Shareef, who had previously been to India, was similarly impressed by the exhibition.

“I have seen in the exhibition what I had not in the seven days I spent in India,” he told The Caravan.

However, the exhibition was met by some with heavy criticism.

“I felt that the photos are a bit superficial and that there is no interaction between the photographer and the contents of the shots,” graphic design junior Sarah Kamal said.

Isaac himself admitted that he took the photos quickly in a short time to show that they are spontaneous rather than staged.

Isaac was previously a designer in AUC Press in 1996. He also has an academy called “let’s learn the art of photography” in which photographers get their training for free.

Isaac added that the exhibition is the product of two visits to India.

The exhibition is open to the public everyday from 10 am. to 5 pm. at Photographic Gallery in Abdul Latif Jameel Hall until October 20.