pink is the navy blue of india

this month’s vogue india has a piece on an exhibition of the british photographer norman parkinson’s work that will travel around the country until next summer. the show has been curated (if that’s the right word) by the tasveer gallery and it focuses largely on the fashion photos mr. parkinson shot in various parts of india in 1956, which were eventually published in the british vogue of november that year.

the title of the show comes from what diana vreeland, the editor of harper’s bazaar at the time, said to the artist, “how clever of you, mr. parkinson also to know that pink is the navy blue of india.” – a remark on the ubiquity of the colour in our lives, that rings true even today.

here are some of my favorites from the exhibition, or what i’ve seen of it on facebook ;-)

the dream-like one above is my absolute favorite. just gorgeous.

lovely shots, no? unlike the really distasteful vogue india shoot that featured people living in poverty sporting burberry & fendi accessories (slumdog meets millionaire, far too literally), mr. parkinson’s pictures seem to focus on – and respect – the beauty of the buildings, landscapes and people which form the backdrop for the clothes and the models.

anyway, i just cannot wait to see these in person when they arrive in delhi in january!

you can check out many of the exhibited photos in tasveer’s facebook album here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.168042583256170.41541.144606098933152&type=3

and tasveer’s write-up on the exhibition here: http://www.tasveerarts.com/exhibitions/norman-parkinson-pink-is-the-navy-blue-of-india/

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