Last week we visited the Rubin Museum to see Steve McCurryâs India exhibit. This was my first time visiting this museum and it was a lot more compelling than I had anticipated. The first thing you notice when you walk into the museum is the elegant spiral staircase. As we made our way to the floor of Steve McCurryâs exhibit, as soon as you come out of the elevator, the spiral staircase is right in the middle, with the exhibit wrapping all the way around. You notice that the exhibit walls arenât painted white like most galleries. This floor is dark. The walls are a deep blue. However, this darkness makes your eyes scroll around the gallery walls because of the enormous amounts of color Steve McCurryâs photographs are emitting. Each wall had 5 or more photographs on them. A closer look at the photographs brings you into a world you didnât really know existed. Steve McCurry does a great job in catching the human condition through a lens.
The people and places in India Steve McCurry photographed are beautiful and natural. He uses his camera to find patterns in the environment and even the portrait style photos he takes of people seem extremely candid. We learned this was because Steve McCurry was able to make his subjects feel comfortable around him and would always wait for the perfect shot. We see rural India and ordinary people living their lives from an angle not traditionally shown. What we donât see are photos of upper-class citizens and extreme wealth. We see the everyday person which makes the exhibit more inspiring and related to some degree. Steve McCurryâs India is a beautiful place full of culture, amazing landscapes and powerful people.
My favorite photograph was Women in Stepwell. It has levels of beautiful designed steps leading to a well at the bottom. What I found great about this stairway design was that it was developed in a genius way. The stairways were useful no matter how full or empty of water the well was. If it was kind of empty, people would just walk all the way down to the bottom. If it was full, a person would only have to walk a couple steps. The photograph itself is beautiful because it catches the symmetry of the stairs. However, what really makes the photo stand out is the two women walking up. The women give us a glimpse of the grand size of the stairs itself. Without the women in the photo, we wouldnât know how big the actual stairs are. But the women also give the photograph a human aspect to it by showing people actually depend on this design.
I believe the reason why Steve McCurryâs âAfghan Girlâ photograph was such a huge impact is because itâs a visually stunning portrait. The intensity and color of the girlâs eyes clashing with the red clothing makes for an interesting view. The facial expression the girl has on her face is telling of the events that were happening during the Soviet-Afghan conflict. This girl was a survivor and you can tell she has been through a lot for the young age she has.
Well stated. You describe the exhibit and McCurry’s work clearly. I like that you point out that McCurry is photographing the ordinary people not the rich and powerful. there are some monks and people like that but certainly no politicians, no corporate executives except the one young man in a suit sitting among older men who are craftsman.
The stepwell photo is very interesting. The place itself that McCurry is photographing is amazing and the decision to use symmetry as you state adds to the majesty of it. The women add scale so we know how big it is.