Category: Photography

Like Baba, Like Bia

Baba, my father, used to call me Bia. Many times, I have recounted the various gifts I received from him—though often not appreciative of them when they were presented. Here, I recount those that have guided my aesthetic journey.

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Penis Portraits

The penis is diametrically considered an object of worship and abject fear. For a few years, I’ve been photographing penis portraits to exemplify consent and get to grips with the desire and the taboo.

Nearly half of this world’s population has penises, and they are a source of pleasure, pain, love, jealousy, power and shame Continue reading Penis Portraits

Headless Male Torsos

From childhood into my teens, every time I’d see a headless male torso, I would grant it an imaginary head of my heart throb.

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The Boy and his Buffalos

As a little boy in Lahore, I saw buffalos for the first time. They were strange animals, neither cow nor goat. To me they were like elephants without trunks. I was fascinated by them. I loved watching them wade in the water for hours. I would watch the young farmers accompany them, pamper them and clean them. The buffalos were the farmer’s pets, friends that they could whisper to. At times farmer and buffalo would swim together and the farmer’s wet clothes would cling to their bodies. I loved the buffalo and their young farmers. Continue reading The Boy and his Buffalos

Seeds of Couch Surfing

Whilst blooms are the zenith of a plant, seeds for me are a symbol of death and harbingers of life.

Couch Surfing has had its blossoms and now has gone to seed. Its concept was introduced to me by a stranger in the seat beside me, on a flight back to London from Delhi in 2008. Simple principle, if you have a couch to spare, and you feel a connection with the shared interests of a traveller, you become their host or guest. Continue reading Seeds of Couch Surfing