Indian Men

INDIAN MEN, WAS SHOT OVER FIVE YEARS, AND IS SIKKA’S FIRST SUBSTANTIAL BODY OF WORK, FRAMING HIS SUBJECTS, INDIAN MEN, IN HIGHLY STYLIZED PORTRAITS. THE THEME APPEARS TO BE DOMESTIC AND FAMILIAR; THE IMAGES ARE SET IN PLACES WE ALL EXIST IN, OUR HOMES- AMONGST PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND MEMORIES. AS AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE ALL EXIST, WE CAN’T HELP BUT COMPARE OUR OWN HOUSES TO THE SUBJECTS, WE LOOK CLOSELY AT THEIR CLOTHING, AT THEIR MATERIAL OBJECTS, AND WE GUESS THEIR HISTORY; WE JUDGE THEIR WEALTH, THEIR CLASS, THEIR STATUS, THEIR BELIEF SYSTEMS. WE ALSO EXPECT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN OUR HOME ENVIRONMENT, AND AT EASE, YET, IN THESE CHOREOGRAPHED PHOTOGRAPHS, THE MEN OMIT A SENSE OF DISLOCATION. THEY APPEAR LONELY, AND ISOLATED; THEIR GAZES SUGGEST YEARNING AND A SENSE OF LONGING. IT IS LEFT TO THE VIEWER TO INTERPRET WHETHER THIS IS FOR THE FUTURE, OR, FOR THE PAST, ALLUDING TO THE IDEA THAT THESE MEN ARE CAUGHT, BETWIXT AND BETWEEN. EXPRESSED THROUGH THE SPECIFICITY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, THIS SERIES GOES BEYOND THE TROPES OF A SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY PROJECT, ALLUDING TO GRAND NARRATIVES AROUND INDIAN IDENTITY AND NATIONHOOD, OF CULTURAL CHANGE AND TRADITION.