They say passion sees no limit and former communication expert Parul Sharma proved the same. Mansi Bhansali catches up with her on the sidelines of her maiden photographic exhibition
Not everyone has the guts to quit their high-paying job as a communication professional to follow their passion. But for Parul Sharma, passion overpowered her job, albeit a little later in the day. What her naked eyes took for granted assumed a newer level of perception as she began to realise the possibilities of encasing them in photography frames. And the visions welled up inside her, resulting in Parulscape, her debut black and white urban essay at the Bikaner House, this weekend.
Sharma shared the inspiration behind her collection. “This series primarily focusses on patterns, structures and geometrical shapes in black and white. It’s an abstract collection with no theme. The photographs are asymmetric and about everydayness. In stillness, I saw movement. In structures, I saw patterns. In shadows, I saw light. It led me further to explore the realm where every object is a text and every space abandoned by our casualness is a context. I still travel alone in those spaces, enchanted by the perpetual shadow play.”
All the 40 images being showcased at the exhibition are in black and white. She believes the combination has spark and rawness. Also, we tend to measure our life in black and white.
Unlike other photographers who title their photographs and represent a theme, Sharma keeps it simple. “I don’t want to convey any message through my photos. That’s why I didn’t give any title to my photographs. I don’t want my photographs to be confined in a box. Similarly, people also try to put their fellows into some sort of boxes. We are constantly judging and labelling others. I absolutely hate those people who define others. The aim of art is communicating without words, about making an emotional connect. I want my photographs to be interpreted by everyone according to their own perspective,” she told us.
Having had a successful career as the spokesperson of Rupert Murdoch in India, she quit her post two months ago to devote more time to photography. “last five years I was highly caught up with my job and meetings. During my travels, I used to capture the photographs on my phone but not with an objective of showcasing them some day. Since I like the beautiful aspect of architecture and nature, I clicked them randomly. Till Swapan Seth, the curator, chanced upon them and asked me to do the exhibition. This shift from a full-fledged job to a passionate photographer was unintentional,” she said.
For Sharma, her exhibition is a parallel world for her. She is planning to showcase the collection in Mumbai, too. “Though my photos will be considered as abstract photography, I don’t consider them as representative of that genre. The usage of light in my photos represents eternity or Supreme. It contains poetry and magic at some level.”
On being spontaneous, the artiste said, “I never decide before shooting. The pictures were shot while I was travelling to either Delhi, Mumbai or Tokyo. The images come to me, I don’t go to them. Moreover, I don’t know the technicalities of photography. I will someday definitely shoot nature but my favourite genre will always be architecture and patterns. Unlike other photographers who click extraordinary photos, I click ordinary ones.”
Ranging from the conveyor belt at the airport to a light streaming into the waiting room of the terminal and shadow plays from Sujan Singh Park to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the minutiae of Delhi is the highlight of the collection. Sharma had a word of advice for budding photographers. “Follow your heart. People in India are mostly copying already established work while in the West there is a lot of innovation happening. Artists there believe in deconstructing.”