Originally trained as a photojournalist and bookmaker, Dayanita Singh (New Delhi, 1961) has exhibited widely both in India and abroad. Her work often takes a curious view of the every day, and is characterised by an unsparing view of her subject matter. Best-known for her portraits of India’s urban middle- and upper-classes, her images of people working, celebrating or resting depict everyday life without embellishment, capturing insights that often challenge exotic stereotypes in the West.
Published alongside an exhibition at Hayward Gallery of the same name, Dayanita Singh: Go Away Closer marks a turning point in the career of this internationally acclaimed artist. For the first time in print, this publication presents a detailed overview of Singh’s Museums – wooden structures that introduce a radical new way of seeing and experiencing Singh’s work and photography in general.
The book includes beautifully reproduced images from throughout Singh’s career, accompanied by a new essay from acclaimed writer, Geoff Dyer, plotting the evolution of Singh’s work and placing her within the context of contemporary photographic and cultural practice. It is followed by an in-depth interview with the artist, led by Stephanie Rosenthal, Chief Curator, Hayward Gallery. Seen by the artist as a seminal document marking a major shift in her practice, this interview illustrates how she understands her own work and this crucial moment in her artistic development. Powerful, beautiful and radical, Dayanita Singh: Go Away Closer offers a rare and illuminating insight into a major artist’s career.
Hardcover
128 pages
24 x 16 cm
ISBN 9781853323188
Designed by Emily Chicken at Peep Studio