The city of Mandu was subject to several upheavals during the invasions. In the 14th century, after the invasion by the Sultan of Delhi, Mandu was renamed Shadiabad, which means "City of Joy". The place was adorned with several buildings of Indo-Islamic architecture. The importance of this city began to decline after the Mongol invasion in the 16th century, It was in Mandu that the chiaroscuro photos were taken. The contrast of the saris worn by the models impresses with its richness of colour. The remains of the ancient palaces and the geometry of the sites blend perfectly with the vibrant colours of the clothes.
There's nothing more joyful and captivating than a child's smile. I experienced this while taking photographs in villages in central India, in Madhya Pradesh. In rural villages, in front of schools and houses. The chiaroscuro portraits direct our gaze straight to the essential.
The features forged by the sun and altitude express inner peace and gratitude. Farmers, monks and nomads from the highlands of northern India near the border with China often travel from far and wide to attend Dalai Lama's lectures. The ruggedness of the place is counterbalanced by the beauty of the landscape and the silence present at every step. In their festive costumes, they participate in the festivals organised over several days by the Buddhist monasteries.
The sculptor Olivier Estoppey, a regular at Bex&Arts exhibitions, opened his workshop to talk about his concepts, the birth of his works from the sketches to the creation of the statues which often weigh several hundred kilos. The world of black and white graphics that transforms into three dimensional objects.