How does one identify oneself? Through clothes, sexuality, religion or their alter ego? Forms of identity are many, singular and plural. Some of us are still searching for our identity, some of us are in love with it. Some of us have lost our identity and now have to build one from scratch. Captured in these photos, that are a part of the Delhi Photo Festival, are some such lives that are caught in the identity riddle. From the Rohingya Muslims who are struggling to preserve their identity in a country where they are marginalised, to those still reeling from the agonizing birth of their country in Bangladesh, as well as the Native Americans who are still fighting to preserve their culture in an ever-growing America…these are just some of the many more examples of identity in its various forms, captured in various frames.
1. In The Bag For The North: Emmanuel Satolli
Central American refugees continue to enter the United States illegally. These photos explore the items they carry in their bags.
2. The Album: Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai explores family life through his photo album.
3. Fear: Memo Magazine
The fear of war, the lack of freedom or education, the fear of not making it or not being accepted. From Libya, Pakistan, to Ukraine this issue approaches different aspects of fear through the lenses of the founders of the magazine.
4. Bangladesh, A Brutal Birth: Kishor Parekh
Bangladesh was formed amidst brutal turmoil. Kishor Parekh explores the story of its birth through this photo.
5. Just The Two Of Us: Klaus Pitchler
Who hasn’t wanted to assume the identity of someone else at least once? Dressing up is a way of creating an alter ego and a second skin, to which one can adjust their behaviour.
6. Rohingya: Michael Drost-Hansen
Since they lost citizenship, the Rohingya Muslims have been exposed to something resembling ethnic cleansing. They now live in government-controlled camps for displaced people.
7. 100 Years: Sandy Gutowski
Gutowski Cecilia is 100 years old, she is still engaged to life. With her sense of humour she proves that there is another possible way to ageing.
8. Mädchenland: Karolin Klüppel
In the state of Meghalaya in India, the Khasi people form the majority of the population. Here, it is the women who are at the forefront of their family.
9. Safe Haven: Sebastian Forkarth
Safe Haven focuses on the process of modernization and development in urban spaces in Iraq, and the role of its multi-ethnic inhabitants who are connected to the occurring changes.
10. Angst: Soham Gupta
Angst is the reaction to the trial weaklings in our society have to go through.
To see more such pictures, head to the Delhi Photo Festival, 2015 (DPF).