We are pleased to present ‘Ganga’, an exhibition of photographs by Antonio di Canito, recipient of Arte Laguna Prize: Technymon ARTresidency. The suite of work was realized during his month-long residency in India, which saw him traverse the banks of the eponymous river in Varanasi, before proceeding to Delhi and later to the idyllic town of Pondicherry.
Reflecting upon his experiences from the travel, Canito says, “Rivers in India are considered goddesses: the river Ganges is regarded as Ganga mata, and its sacred water is believed to nourish the earth and erase karma.”
His project ‘Ganga’ thus presents portraits of ordinary women immersed in water with only their heads showing over its glistening blue-green surface. Bringing together such potent motifs as water and woman, Canito alludes to rebirth, vitality, energy and beauty. He adds, “Sometimes I like to include symbols in my work as seen in Renaissance paintings. The juxtaposition of woman and water, for me, represents birth, strength, power and love.”
The freeze-frames are also evocative of deeper narratives surrounding love and life. As Canito puts it, “If water is a symbol of life, and life is born from love, then water also becomes a symbol of love.”