Student Wins Toto Funds the Art Awards

Look Who’s Shooting

Nikhil believes that the colour, material, texture and pattern of the place adds to the value of the photograph. Photograph/ Nikhil Patel

This article was originally published in March 2013.

“Space always fascinates me. Every space has a character which is defined by a number of elements within it.”

Nikhil Patel is one of the two winners in the 2013 edition of the Toto Funds the Arts Photography prize for his series Surface with Memories. Having studied architecture and worked as an architect for over a year, photography has helped him convey the stories of places to people. However, he believes his series is only a medium for conversation—a way of talking about a problem and not something that provides a solution.

Currently, Nikhil is studying photography at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. He says, ”It feels great when your personal work is appreciated. It serves as a great source of inspiration and pushes me to work harder.” He believes that the images helps him document the emotions, memories and the beauty of various places. The sketches help him visualise spaces in the fourth dimension by taking him back in time and offering a peek into how things might have been.

In its physical form, the series is presented as a book. Every image is a two-layered print where the top layer is a sketch printed on transparent sheet and the lower layer is a print. The multiple layers enhance the experience of going through the images in the book. “I plan to publish this book and make it accessible in bookstores,” he says.

—Written by Ketan Kundargi