A story of land, lives, and lores through the lens of a political activist

‘Of Land, Lives and Lores’, an exhibition of photographs by Vijoo Krishnan, a Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the College of Fine Arts here on Friday.

The exhibition features photographs ranging from capturing the intensity of human suffering — such as Muslim children evicted from their homes in Assam — to the delicate beauty of the tiny red-vented bulbul, demonstrating that Mr. Krishnan’s work knows no boundaries.

Inspired by his travels as a political activist with the farmers’ association, Mr. Krishnan developed a keen eye on capturing the life of the unheard through his lens. He said that his photography journey began with a National Panasonic camera with a built-in-radio, which he received as a gift from his uncle.

Mr. Krishnan noted that these moments were not pre-planned but rather stumbled upon, capturing what he finds good on the way. Along with capturing the harsh realities of human life, the exhibition also displays breathtaking landscapes and historical monuments that he photographed during his journeys across the world.

A love for black-and-white photography is on full display, as it dominates an entire wall of the exhibition. Mr. Krishnan noted that this style of work is deeply inspired by Sebastião Salgado, Sunil Janah, and Alberto Korda. Beyond professional DSLR cameras, Mr. Krishnan also employs his mobile phone as a powerful tool to capture the finer details of life, even immortalising fleeting moments from a moving vehicle.

CPI(M) Kerala State Committee secretary Govindan Master and the party’s Thiruvananthapuram District Committee secretary V. Joy were present at the inuaguration.

The exhibition is open till January 22.