Prabir C. Purkayastha

Despite his original intention to join the army like his father, Prabir Purkayastha, born in 1952 in Central India, graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi and moved to Thailand in 1973 to work as an editor for a leading business publication. Upon his return to India in 1980, he worked for 20 years with multiple distinguished advertising agencies in the country. 


As his interest in documentary and fine art photography grew, Purkayastha started spending more and more time photographing the lonely yet traditionally abundant cities of India, particularly those in Ladakh and Assam. Ladakh, nestled deep into the northern Himalayas was the inspiration for a critically acclaimed picture book he produced in 2005, which encapsulates the beauty and remote atmosphere of the region. Accentuating the richness of its old Tibetan culture, and successfully capturing its ways of life, each photo tells an intimate story laced with ancient history. At a recent talk in New York, the artist spoke of the ways in which he had incorporated particular techniques into these photographs, which were suggested to him by the local monks themselves. The book has won several awards and critical recognition, including the ‘Book of the Month’ honour from Better Photography, UK; the B/W Photography Magazine Spotlight Award; a Gold Medal from the All India Federation of Master Printers; and a Silver Medal from SAAPI , Jakarta, in 2006. 

The lack of colour in Purkayastha’s photographs by no means makes them less dramatic or dominating. Rather, it makes each one stand out more, enhancing its content and landscape by filtering the distractions that colour and embellishment bring. Purkayastha’s photographs have been published in a variety of newspapers, magazines and calendars, and have also won him awards from the most prestigious art and photography institutions. His honours include being selected as one of Fuji Film India’s Super Six Photographers for 2009 and the ‘Habitat Award’ for the best photography exhibition in 2002. 

The artist’s most recent exhibitions include a summer talk-show about his work in Ladakh in various Californian cities in 2004, and, the following year, a talk-show at the Rubin Museum of Arts in New York about his unique collection of wall mural photographs. Several exhibitions of his work have been held in India and abroad, including ones in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New Delhi, New York and Mumbai. When he is not shooting on location, Purkayastha lives and works in Gurgaon, Haryana.


(Profile by Saffronart)