A project by Luz Perez Ojeda
The Artistic Context
Luz Perez Ojeda creates mythic visions of India through a complex process involving photography and media intervention. The Indian celebration of Ganesh Day in Paris serves as the point of departure for capturing the faces, costumes, and body postures of this community. Her work moves beyond a simple journalistic approach; by using dyed colors and pasted layers of paper, she elevates the documentation of the event to an artistic level where the subjects reveal their personal moods and deep inner essences.
As noted by gallerist Milagros Bello (Ph.D.):
"The photographs show... different moments of the celebration where groups of Indians opt to dialogue with the camera. Instead of simply posing, they create a sharp connection to the lens and to the photographer... Perez Ojeda's photography portraits nuances and subtleties of the human race."
The Event: Ganesh Day in Paris
Every year in Paris, on a mobile date corresponding to the early September full moon, the Ganesh Temple (SRI MANIKAR VINAYAKAR ALAYAM) in the 18th district organizes the celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi—the birthday of the most popular Hindu God. This event is a prodigious festival in India, particularly in Mumbai, where religious ceremonies continue for ten days.
In Paris, the festival features chariots wonderfully adorned with thousands of flowers, which carry the magnificent golden bronze image of Ganesh usually kept in the temple. These chariots are hand-pulled by devotees through the streets, surrounded by the religious fervor and happiness of the Hindu community living in France.
The Photographer’s Perspective
"It was loud, it was bright, it was slightly confusing and there were a lot of Indian people similar to my first impressions of Sri Lanka when I went there a few years ago. Though with the added convenience that this spectacle doesn’t require a 9-hour flight to experience it. It’s always amazing to see ancient traditions flourishing outside of their traditional environment."
"Many non-Hindu people also come to look at the parade and to enjoy the ambiance... Though the non-Indians made up a much smaller proportion, they were all present with their cameras to document this rather alien celebration. Myself included, naturally."
Indian Girls 2011 100x50cm mixed media on paper
Indian women chain 2011 100x50cm mixed media on paper
Indian Man 2011 60x80cm mixed media on paper
Indian women chain 2011 100x50cm mixed media on paper
Ganesh day in Paris 2011 100x50cm mixed media on paper
Indian family 2011 80x60cm mixed media on paper
