Pankaj Mistry captures the exquisiteness of the otherwise mundane. "For me," he says, "photography will always be about that magical split second when an ordinary moment decides to share an extraordinary secret with anyone who cares deeply enough to see it." Shadows lurk throughout Mistry's photographs, heightening the mystery surrounding the subject matter. They stripe rooms with film-noir-style slits and grow like moss in corners and alleys as if to conceal. Cloaking the photographs in moody darkness, the shadows make the small bursts of light that much more striking. The Indian-based photographer is looking for the "honesty of the moment," and the light, whether natural or phosphorescent, reveals the truth behind the extraordinary secret. Colors break free from the shadows in bright jolts. Greens glow with intrigue like the lighting in artsy music videos, while terracotta grounds the photographs in an earthy feel.
Mistry's subject matters are layered with polarity. Decaying structures speak as much about fragility as they do about strength. Shadows are pregnant with the yearning for light. The stillness of a scene magnifies the voices that are lying hushed in its various corners. The 'obvious' in every image provokes questions about the hidden stories behind it.
