At the Depot Artspace, Devonport in Auckland, from July 15 to August 3, Robert Peper’s art photography celebrating Indian life will be showcased.

Pepper’s inspiration comes from his time in India, where he photographed the intensely rich and colourful culture, engaged in both every day and festive life. He visited India three years ago, and also last year, 3 weeks and 4 weeks respectively. He followed up on this experience by evaluating and documenting Indian life here in Auckland, especially participation in festive celebrations.

Pictures that would be presented in the exhibition not only come from Rajasthan but also places like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and surrounding areas. He got to know the culture and see the working in a typical village household. From water management system to saree making factory, he could see the developmental stages the unseen India is going through.

In India there are many different angles to Indian life. He noticed a lot of kindness to foreigners and sincere happiness during his chats and was often invited into their homes, which he appreciated, but at the same time he became well aware of the poverty, ethical disputes and of course the caste system, which is very noticeable and intrinsic in India’s every walk of life.

“My aim with this exhibition is to present a greater understanding and respect for the Indian population, bringing to the surface the often invisible and therefore unseen identity of the Indian culture in India and New Zealand, showing the richness, place, participation and contribution of the Indian people in New Zealand,” he says.

In 1769 the first two Indians to set foot in Aotearoa came ashore, and in 1809 the first story of settlement was recorded, “when one sailor jumped ship [in the Bay of Plenty], married a Māori woman and settled down.” – Sekhar Bandyopadhyay and Jane Buckingham  Indians and the Antipodes: Networks, Boundaries, and Circulation  (Oxford University Press 2018)

“The Indian population has a significant presence in Aotearoa, and adds to our rich diversity as a multicultural nation. In this captivating body of work, photographer Robert Peper documents his journey to Rajasthan and pays homage to India, its people and their everyday lives. Initially planned as part of Auckland Festival of Photography, Robert’s superb photographs address the Festival’s theme of Unseen by celebrating the intensity, colour and richness of Indian life, and awakening us to what is not always observed, or often taken for granted. Depot Artspace is honoured to host A Celebration of Indian Life – Surfacing the Unseen and to celebrate with Robert the rich cultural diversity of Aotearoa,” noted Linda Blincko, Creative Director at Depot Artspace.

-Vritti Parasher