Runaway Lovers

Year: 2016–17
Medium: Photo series and motion image

Falling in love is part of our nature. But there are social rules put in place that get in the way of two lovers of different religious backgrounds. People of two faiths are required to get married according to special laws. Sometimes one partner converts, leaving behind their own religion and religious community, for the sake of being together with their loved ones. The threat of murder, suicide, honor killing, and estrangement follow these couples. But they brave it all out to be together. These lovers are fighting to live together, to love and coexist, setting an example for larger society. In this photo series, I've made portraits of these courageous couples in order to bring their issue to light.

Two adults in wedding attire sit together beneath garlands on a decorated bed.
Animated flames rise from a bouquet of red and pink flowers in an orange vase.
Adult wrapped in floral-patterned cloth stands against a backdrop of oversized red roses.
Framed portrait, artificial flowers, ceramic birds, and household ornaments arranged on a wall shelf.
White pigeons occupy stacked cages against a worn blue interior wall.
Person in a patterned sari carries a bouquet through a purple-painted courtyard.
Heart-shaped floral ornament with a miniature couple sits on a bright yellow cloth.
Couple sits on a rooftop ledge, one pointing toward the cloudy skyline.
Decorated three-wheeled cart stands on a rooftop overlooking dense city buildings.
Seated couple in a living room, one wearing a mannequin-like mask beside two foil-wrapped objects.
Television and a small wooden shrine are mounted on adjoining pink and green walls.
Kneeling couple embraces and kisses before a pale floral fabric backdrop.
Broken glass shards overlap in a dense field of pale blue reflections.
Couple sits close together in an otherwise empty cinema with rows of maroon seats.
Burning candles line a soot-blackened shelf beneath hanging ornaments and wall script.
Flower garlands and strings form a canopy above a patterned bed.
Wide gallery installation showing photographs, objects, and a blue wall of framed works.

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Runaway Lovers

Year

2016–17

Medium

Photo series and motion image