10 things about Crossings

At first glance, these 19th-century photographs from India and surrounding regions may look like neutral historical records. However, many were made to serve colonial goals.

A number of these photographers worked for the British administration, creating images that reinforced imperial ideas of order, beauty and control.

The images align with Western ideals: ruined temples, ornate palaces, vibrant markets. Composed to charm the viewer and obscure the violence of occupation.

One of the most prolific colonial photographers, Bourne captured awe-inspiring architecture and lively street scenes, selling his work to British viewers back home who had never set foot in India.

Tripe focused on documenting architecture and religious sites, producing technically refined prints. His photos are quiet and striking in their stillness - especially in a time of unrest.

Photographers like Joseph Lawton were sent to Sri Lanka to document religious heritage. His images, while contributing to academic study, also aligned with tourist fantasies of ancient, ‘lost’ civilizations.

Photographers like Joseph Lawton were sent to Sri Lanka to document religious heritage. His images, while contributing to academic study, also aligned with tourist fantasies of ancient, ‘lost’ civilizations.

Colonial photography didn’t just document landscapes. It also portrayed local rulers like Jung Bahadur Rana of Nepal - styled in regal dress to appeal to Western ideas of nobility and ‘otherness’.

Yogananthan’s work is a poetic reflection on storytelling and his own Sri Lankan roots. It offers a present-day lens on the complexities of heritage.

Crossings invites you to look again - at what photography shows and what it hides. How do images shape history, and who gets to frame the story?