Seeing beyond the black and white
Photographer evokes nostalgia through monochrome images
ENTERING the Kamaria Gallery, one encounters a captivating seven-layer sequence carefully curated to guide visitors through the narrative of the “Past Lives and Distant Voices” exhibition.
The gallery space in Petaling Jaya, Selangor was designed by exhibiting artist Nirmala Karuppiah, a former graphic designer who embarked on fine art photography in 1991.
Nirmala’s talent for captivating visual photographs – now part of Malaysia’s photography artworks trove – has created an immersive experience for visitors.
There is a passageway, inner space, courtyards, and open areas of the gallery that offer visitors various ways to partake in her creations.
Curated by Foo Chi Wei, the exhibition features 20 works through which Nirmala was encouraged to convey depth, mood and a profoundness that would appeal to many.
Nirmala said what set the exhibition apart was its use of black and white photography, a deliberate choice that allowed viewers to deeply engage with the images.
“Each photograph is thoughtfully crafted to capture moments and emotions, enhancing the viewer’s experience and imagination,” she said.
“Every single picture I took is like a movie and an overall storytelling of the exhibition.”
One of the intriguing themes explored in Nirmala’s exhibition is deja vu and anemoia, which is a feeling of nostalgia for an era that one has never lived in.
Her photographs have been shot in Melaka and Terengganu, a few American cities, and China.
The works evoked feelings of wonder and calm as she expertly captured the delicate balance between light and shadow.
Every photograph shared a story of longing and introspection and evoked nostalgia.
Through the works, viewers were invited to surrender to a profound sense of familiarity and yearning that lay within themselves.
Foo said feelings of deja vu and anemoia would likely arise in viewers as they reflected on their connections to the past and echoes of history that they recognised within their souls.
“The photographs weave together disparate places, time and sentiment, offering glimpses into a collective yearning for the unseen.
“This is that moving journey through the realms of memory and imagination, where the past whispers and distant voices bring us home,” he said.
Foo added that Nirmala’s work reminded one of the power of photography in transcending the visual and going on to touch the heart, and soul of viewers, and connecting one to shared human experiences.
“Past Lives and Distant Voices” exhibition will go on until April 30 at Kamaria Gallery, 6 Jalan 16/7, Petaling Jaya. Viewing hours are based on appointments. Call 03-4021 1092 (Sutra Foundation).