Untitled (Train Station)

Subudh Gupta is well-known for his paintings and monumental sculptures of recognisable icons of Indian life; stainless steel utensils, tiffin boxes, taxi cabs and airport trolleys. Few know that Gupta's artistic practice has taken him to performance, video and photography. From 2003-2006, he created a small series of images, equally iconic of India, such as this scene of a train station taken in 2003. This photograph captures a quintessential element of Indian culture through an immediately accessible language and aesthetic. Much of Gupta's work is a commentary on the threat to traditional ways of life resulting from India's rapid urbanisation. His ability to translate the local into a global language of shared values and universal symbols has brought him much recognition and many devoted international collectors.