River of Colour—The India of Raghubir Singh

Raghubir Singh (1942-1999) was one of the finest documentary photographers. He was born in Rajasthan, India, and for thirty years made countless personal journeys across the vast subcontinent. He travelled along the Ganges, toured the ghats and alleys of Benares and explored the cosmpolitan cities of Calcutta and Mumbai. The result was a series of vibrant photographs that capture the exuberant spirit and restless activity of his native India. Like his hero, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Singh always succeeded in getting into the heart of the scene and intuitively portraying it from the insider's point of view.
In his introduction to River of Colour, the first ever retrospective of his work, Raghubir Singh explains what India means to him, focusing in particular on the importance of colour in India. Singh's instinctual affinity with colour is seen again and again in his pictures that follow. Arranged in eleven sections that depict aspects integral to Indian life, including the street, monuments, icons, water and pilgrimages, Singh's photographs reveal everything from the magical to the mundane, providing a comprehensive picture of the country that remains imprinted in the mind.