Soham Gupta, taken by “anguish” in Calcutta – Liberation

Maison Doisneau is exhibiting the “Angst” series until April 30. The Indian photographer shows the men and women who live in the slums of the city.

If you escaped Angst (“Angoisse”) by Soham Gupta, then one day or another we will have to confront the shocking work of the photographer. Noticed at Arles in 2018 and then at the Venice Biennale in 2019, her nocturnal dive into the slums of Calcutta cannot be forgotten. Scraping the night of his hometown like a hallucinated shadow, Soham Gupta illuminates his most deprived fellows with uncompromising flash and drunken framing. Who are these filthy, puny, twisted beings that look like sickly bats or mangy dogs? They are beggars who live in holes, the sick, victims of violence, deformed humans, prostitutes at the end of their rope or alcoholics who cling to life. Bravely venturing into this court of miracles of the 21st century, Soham Gupta unexpectedly captures moments of tenderness among the castaways of the slum city. The presentation of this series at Maison Doisneau is accompanied by an original soundtrack.

Angst by Soham Gupta at the Maison de la photographie Robert-Doisneau, Gentilly (Val-de-Marne), until April 30.