COVERAGE

Local glossy, society and gossip magazines often feature the Royal Families of various states wearing their best regalia - posed against a backdrop of the family palace, or seated formally on gilded chairs, in a luxurious setting.  The women are beautifully dressed in saris, bedecked with jewels, while the men stand behind them, also dressed in traditional clothing, looking gravely out at the viewer.  One wonders about their privileged life which continues to ensure their status in society.

An artist at a recent Art Show, took the concept of the group portrait and gave it an interesting twist. Choosing an old photograph, yellowed with time, showing a family group gathered for a formal portrait, probably commemorating a special occasion, he blocked out the faces, robbing them of their identity - with this removed, they became as anonymous as dummies !

In his explanation of the work, the artist, put forward the idea that the sheer quantity of personal photographs on public networking sites, separated from background and iconography, often simply recording the individual at a particular time of day, robs them of relevance.  The images cease to have meaning - exposure to public viewing removes any significance, which they might have had, they become as insignificant, as the old photograph !