Photo Essay: 'A factless autobiography' by Debmalya Roy Choudhuri

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Life. New York.

New York-based photographer Debmalya Roy Choudhuri has been shortlisted for the prestigious Louis Roederer Discovery Award 2022, curated by Taous R. Dahmani, at the 53rd edition of Rencontres d’Arles. A selection of 34 images from Deb's shortlisted series — titled A factless autobiography— is part of a special exhibition that will remain on view until 25th September, 2022. Deb's participation at Rencontres d’Arles is supported by SPACE STUDIO, a Baroda-based not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to developing creative practices.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Fishnets. Home after dark.

“I first started photographing people in their homes, even though a landscape definitely gives you a sense of place. My position in America, or my failure to grieve my past, has played a role in photographing landscapes. You will probably find vast, empty landscapes that relate to my state of mind.”

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Rockaways. New York.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, The end of the night.

“‘A factless autobiography’ had its beginnings in 2018. It is based in the United States, and is more of a collaborative practice where I photographed people whom I stayed with and spent time with. I developed an intimate relationship with them.”

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Behind the veil. Rockaways.

“The work that I am showing at Les Rencontres d’Arles considers three main protagonists. They have all faced some sort of violence in their lives. I never planned to directly talk about the violence they faced in their individual lives; it was merely a way of sharing stories and sharing a common solidarity.”

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Tony looks at me. Home.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, For the Love of God. Tony by the Sea. America.

“The ideas of gender and identity are very much rooted in the body. It is through the body that we affirm our own existence in this world. Our body bears witness to so many journeys which involve both struggles and joys. It becomes a kind of medium by itself.”

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Entrapped. Stamford. Connecticut.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Freedom in America.

“Sometimes I do feel that photography is kind of a voyeuristic act. No matter how much you try to be spontaneous, there is always some element of performativity to it. For me, there still lies a certain honesty in this desire to be part of the image. It is also always a collaborative process.”

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Insomnia. Manhattan. New York.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Lipstick. East New York.

© Debmalya Roy Choudhuri, Alexis. Brooklyn.

“I feel like the personal is always political, in terms of how you define a work. Every choice you make in life is political. You have to define your own position personally, and in the context of what goes on around you, and that is the most political you can be.”

Follow Deb's work @debchoudhuri

Images courtesy Debmalya Roy Choudhuri & SPACE STUDIO, Baroda