Devashish Gaur (IN, b. 1996) currently lives and works in India. Through an interdisciplinary practice – incorporating found objects and archival imagery – his photographic works approach notions of home, domesticity, distance, intimacy and identity. Gaur’s depictions of India’s lush natural environments, stark concrete architecture and domestic life paint some of the world’s most crowded cities as places of quiet solitude. A winner of Sharjah Art Foundation’s Vantage Point award, his work has been published by the likes of Aperture, Art in America/Art News, It’s Nice That, Palm Studios, IMA Magazine, Neither and Vogue India. Alongside his personal projects, Gaur works on assignment for various clients including Wallpaper Magazine, IKEA and Kartik Research.
“Growing up, I never met my grandfather, but I’d always felt his presence woven into my family’s stories. A freedom fighter, a teacher, a poet, he left behind a legacy that intrigued me deeply. I found myself drawn to his life through old photographs, and fascinating tales recounted by my father, who by then had become the custodian of his memory. Each precious anecdote my father shared was a treasure trove of insight into the man behind the legend.”
“Despite this wealth of stories, and the richness of the imagery painted by my father’s words, there remained an undeniable sense of longing – a desire to peel back the layers of time and uncover more. Each faded photograph and weathered document from my family archives revealed a glimpse of his world, sparking a desire to understand him, and in turn, to understand my roots.”
“Alongside this curiosity, I grappled with the distance between me and my father: a divide marked by unspoken tensions and silent conversations. Like two ships passing in the night, we inhabited the same space yet remained separated by an invisible divide. Our relationship, like many others, was a complex dance of distance and closeness. Photography became my refuge: a means of capturing fleeting moments and exploring the dynamics of family. Through the lens, I sought to bridge generational gaps, and to touch upon the essence of who we are and where we come from. Between the past and an uncertain present, the enduring bond that connects us across time and space remains constant, anchoring me to my grandfather’s legacy while guiding me through my own journey of self-discovery.”