Gauri Gill, Untitled (5), from the series The Village on the Highway, 2021. Copyright Gauri Gill.
Gauri Gill, Untitled (28), from the series The Village on the Highway, 2021. Copyright Gauri Gill.
Gauri Gill, Untitled (3), from the series The Village on the Highway, 2021. Copyright Gauri Gill.
Installation view, Gauri Gill, The Village on the Highway, 2021, at the V&A Museum, London, United Kingdom. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum.
Installation view, Gauri Gill, The Village on the Highway, 2021, at the V&A Museum, London, United Kingdom. Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum.
GAURI GILL
Untitled (60) from Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
42 x 28 in.
106.7 x 71.1 cm
JCG12773
Installation view, Gauri Gill, A Time to Play: New Scenes from Acts of Appearance, James Cohan, 52 Walker Street, October 7-November 13, 2021
GAURI GILL
Untitled (81) from Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
16 x 24 in.
40.6 x 61 cm
JCG12794
Installation view, Gauri Gill, A Time to Play: New Scenes from Acts of Appearance, James Cohan, 52 Walker Street, October 7-November 13, 2021
GAURI GILL
Untitled (76) from Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
16 x 24 in.
40.6 x 61 cm
JCG12789
GAURI GILL
Untitled (87) from Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
24 x 16 in.
61 x 40.6 cm
JCG12800
Installation View, Gauri Gill: Acts of Resistance and Repair, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, January 26, 2023 –April 10, 2023
Installation View, Gauri Gill: Acts of Resistance and Repair, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark, January 26, 2023 –April 10, 2023
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Bohada, from the series Fields of Sight, 2021
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
42 x 62 in.
106.7 x 157.5 cm
Framed: 49 x 68 1/4 in.
124.5 x 173.4 cm
JCG12910
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Bohada, from the series Fields of Sight, 2021
Installation view, Gauri Gill, A Time to Play: New Scenes from Acts of Appearance, James Cohan, 52 Walker Street, October 7-November 13, 2021
GAURI GILL
Untitled (97) from Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
24 x 16 in.
61 x 40.6 cm
JCG12810
Installation view, Gauri Gill, A Time to Play: New Scenes from Acts of Appearance, James Cohan, 52 Walker Street, October 7-November 13, 2021
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
The Great Pandemic, from the series Fields of Sight, 2021
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
62 x 42 in.
157.5 x 106.7 cm
Framed: 68 1/4 x 49 in.
173.4 x 124.5 cm
JCG12909
Installation view, Gauri Gill, A Time to Play: New Scenes from Acts of Appearance, James Cohan, 52 Walker Street, October 7-November 13, 2021
GAURI GILL
Untitled (15), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
60 x 40 in.
152.4 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Untitled (4), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
60 x 40 in.
152.4 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
JCG11955
GAURI GILL
Untitled (13), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
24 x 16 in.
61 x 40.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
JCG11964
GAURI GILL
Untitled (48), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
60 x 40 in.
152.4 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
JCG11700
GAURI GILL
Untitled (31), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
16 x 24 in.
40.6 x 61 cm
Edition of 7
JCG9849
GAURI GILL
Untitled (27), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
28 x 42 in.
71.1 x 106.7 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
Installation view, Projects 108: Gauri Gill, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, April 15– September 3, 2018
GAURI GILL
Untitled (9), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
60 x 40 in.
152.4 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
JCG11960
Installation view, Projects 108: Gauri Gill, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, April 15– September 3, 2018
Installation view, Projects 108: Gauri Gill, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, April 15– September 3, 2018
GAURI GILL
Untitled (7), from the series Acts of Appearance, 2015-ongoing
Archival pigment print
42 x 28 in.
106.7 x 71.1 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
JCG11958
Installation view, Projects 108: Gauri Gill, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, April 15– September 3, 2018
Installation view, Gauri Gill, May You Live In Interesting Times, 58 Annual International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, May 11- November 24, 2019
Photographer: Francesco Gall
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Over one lakh voters boycott elections, 2019, from the series Fields of Sight, 2013-ongoing
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
16 x 24 in.
40.6 x 61 cm
JCG12264
Installation View, Gauri Gill: Acts of Resistance and Repair, Schirn Kuntshalle Frankfurt, Germany, October 13, 2022 - January 8, 2023
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Building the City, 2016, from the series Fields of Sight, 2013-ongoing
Archival pigment print
42 x 62 in.
106.7 x 157.5 cm
JCG12246
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Truth of Suffering, 2019, from the series Fields of Sight, 2013-ongoing
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
62 x 42 in.
157.5 x 106.7 cm
JCG12260
Installation view, Gauri Gill and Rajesh Vangad, Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, November 18, 2017– February 25, 2018
Installation view, Gauri GIll and Rajesh Vangad, Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, November 18, 2017– February 25, 2018
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
The Drought, the Flood, 2016, from the series Fields of Sight, 2013-ongoing
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
42 x 62 in.
106.68 x 132.1 cm
JCG12245
GAURI GILL and RAJESH VANGAD
Three Suns, 2019, from the series Fields of Sight, 2013-ongoing
Acrylic paint on Archival pigment print
42 x 62 in.
106.7 x 157.5 cm
JCG11651
GAURI GILL
Untitled (26), from the series The Mark on the Wall, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
11 x 14 in.
27.9 x 35.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Untitled (5), from the series The Mark on the Wall, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
14 x 11 in.
35.6 x 27.9 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
Installation view, Projects 108: Gauri Gill, MoMA PS1, Long Island City, NY, April 15– September 3, 2018
GAURI GILL
Untitled (15), from the series The Mark on the Wall, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
14 x 11 in.
35.6 x 27.9 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
Installation view, Gauri Gill, documenta 14, Epigraphic Museum, Athens, Greece, April 8- July 16, 2017
Installation view, Gauri Gill, documenta 14, Epigraphic Museum, Athens, Greece, April 8- July 16, 2017
Installation view, Gauri Gill, documenta 14, Epigraphic Museum, Athens, Greece, April 8– July 16, 2017
GAURI GILL
Untitled (27), from the series The Mark on the Wall, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
14 x 11 in.
35.6 x 27.9 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
(Becoming) Mumbai 2012 (g), from the series Becoming, 2003–ongoing
GAURI GILL
Mumbai 2012 (e), from the series Becoming, 2003–ongoing
Installation view, Gauri Gill, May You Live In Interesting Times, 58 Annual International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, May 11- November 24, 2019
GAURI GILL
Gurgaon 2004 (a), from the series Becoming, 2003–ongoing
GAURI GILL
Kolkata 2009 (a), from the series Becoming, 2003–ongoing
GAURI GILL
Untitled (2), from the series Traces, 1999-ongoing
Archival Pigment Print
86 x 58 in.
218.44 x 147.3 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof
Silver Gelatin Print
19 x 13 in.
48.3 x 33 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof
Installation view, Gauri Gill: Traces, Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland, June 13– November 1, 2018
GAURI GILL
Untitled (3), from the series Traces, 1999-ongoing
Archival Pigment Print
86 x 58 in.
215.9 x 147.3 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof
Installation view, Gauri Gill: Traces, Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland, June 13– November 1, 2018
GAURI GILL
Untitled (6), from the Birth Series, 2005
Silver gelatin print
16 x 20 in.
40.6 x 50.8 cm
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
GAURI GILL
Untitled (7), from the Birth Series, 2005
Silver gelatin print
16 x 20 in.
40.6 x 50.8 cm
Edition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs
GAURI GILL
‘Kanta’, from the series ‘Balika Mela’, 2003
Archival pigment print
42 x 28 in.
106.7 x 71.1 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
63 x 42 in.
160 x 106.7 cm
Edition of 3 plus one artist's proof
GAURI GILL
'Revanti', from the series 'Balika Mela', 2003
Archival pigment print
42 x 28 in.
106.7 x 71.1 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
Archival pigment print
63 x 42 in.
160 x 106.7 cm
Edition of 3 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
‘Sunita, Sita and Nirmala’, from the series ‘Balika Mela’, 2003
Archival pigment print
28 x 42 in.
71.1 x 106.7 cm
Edition of 7 plus one artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Jannat, Barmer, from the series Notes from the Desert, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
30 x 24 in.
76.2 x 61 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Izmat, Barmer, from the series Notes from the Desert, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
24 x 30 in.
61 x 76.2 cm
Edition of 7 plus one artist's proof
GAURI GILL
New homes after the flood, Lunkaransar, from the series Notes from the Desert, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
24 x 30 in.
61 x 76.2 cm
Edition of 7 plus one artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Jogi home out in the country, Bikaner, from the series Notes from the Desert, 1999-ongoing
Silver gelatin print
24 x 30 in.
61 x 76.2 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Waterwell, from the series Places, Traces, 1999-ongoing
GAURI GILL
Yuba City, California 2001, from the series The Americans, 2000-2007
Archival pigment print
16.5 x 50 in.
40.6 x 152.5 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Playing Durga in a Hindu Unity Day performance, Washington DC. Float at lndia day parade. Fremont, California 2002, from the series The Americans, 2000-2007
Archival pigment print
16.5 x 50 in.
40.6 x 152.5 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Brahmin thread tying ceremony for Silicon Valley professionals in a local strip mall. Fremont, California 2002, from the series The Americans, 2000-2007
Archival pigment print
16.5 x 50 in.
40.6 x 152.5 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
Kundan Singh in his son's home. Yuba City 2001, from the series The Americans, 2000-2007
Archival pigment print
27 x 40 in.
68.6 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
GAURI GILL
lndian grocery store in Queens, New York 2004, from the series The Americans, 2000-2007
Archival pigment print
27 x 40 in.
68.6 x 101.6 cm
Edition of 7 plus 1 artist's proof
I’m interested in the human strategies through which people survive the precariousness: expressions of humor, resistance, and uncanny beauty.
—Gauri Gill
For nearly two decades, Gauri Gill has investigated the interplay between obscurity and power through her images of daily life in rural India. Initially trained in painting and applied arts in New Delhi, Gill shifted her focus in the early-1990s to study photography in the United States. Since then, Gill has established herself as a force in the photography field, shaping a new image of life in India. Her photographs unearth acts of resilience by honoring her subjects in vernacular moments and moving the spotlight away from the media’s one-dimensional portrayal of oppression, the struggle for education, healthcare and land issues faced by India’s rural and indigenous communities. According to Gill, “the universal is often achieved by looking at the local or the quotidian, things that are familiar and therefore not exotic, but never ordinary.”
Gill was born in Chandigarh in 1970, and worked as a photojournalist before embarking on her own expansive and collaborative process of image-making. Gill’s long-standing engagement with marginalized communities began in 1999 with her ongoing body of work Notes from the Desert, which comprises thousands of gelatin silver photographs. In this archive of images, Gill presents intimate snapshots of daily life in Western Rajasthan, a region near the border with Pakistan, through her candid, intimate style of photography. Gill often revisits the same subjects and places over extended periods of time, developing close relationships with the individuals and families she interacts with in a continuous process engagement, of which documentation is a by-product.
Gill’s images are a form of remembrance, where objects depicted and places memorialized are embedded with community identities. Whether it is through her black-and-white photographs of spaces in Rajasthan, including grave-sites in her series Traces to empty classrooms whose walls are imaginatively painted with instructional diagrams and anatomical drawings in The Mark on the Wall, each work emits a sombre quietude.
Over the last decade, Gill has developed collaborative partnerships in an effort to further blur the line between photographer and subject. Beginning in 2013, Gill and renowned Adivasi painter, Rajesh Vangad have worked together on Fields of Sight, a series of photographs taken by Gill and then hand-inscribed in black paint by Vangad to co-create new imagery of life in Ganjad, a small farming village. These fantastical works combine the contemporary language of photography with that of ancient Warli drawing, a genre of folk art which utilizes the geometric vocabulary of circles, triangles, and squares to symbolize different elements in nature, and the world.
In 2015, Gill began collaborating with papier-mâché artists of the Kokna and Warli tribes in Maharashtra, renowned for their sacred masks. In this series Acts of Appearance, she invited her collaborators to go beyond the confines of their traditional mask making and develop a new set of forms. Through these vibrant color photographs, Gill tells fictional stories improvised with her collaborator-subjects as they engage in everyday village activities while inhabiting new masks, recalling animals, humans and revered objects that they made expressly for this body of work. The resulting images vacillate between reality and otherworldliness, unfolding in a range of symbolic and sometimes playful scenarios all situated within the backdrop of the surrounding village.
Gill’s photographs are an invitation for the audience to "enter the frame." She says, “If the classic trope is that I am the photographer, and there is the subject, and there is the audience, then I want the spectators to be onstage too, to break through and speak back.” Ultimately, Gill is interested in provoking layers of dialogue through her imagery and suggests the barriers between subject and viewer are fluid, drawing us into the narratives at play.
Gauri Gill (b. 1970, Chandigarh, India) earned a BFA (Applied Art) from the College of Art, New Delhi; BFA (Photography) from Parsons School of Design/The New School, New York; and MFA (Art) from Stanford University, California. She has exhibited extensively within India and internationally, including the Venice Biennale 2019; MoMA PS1, New York; Documenta 14, Athens and Kassel; Kochi Biennale; 7th Moscow Biennale; Wiener Library, London; and Whitechapel Gallery, London. Recent solo exhibitions include Acts of Resistance and Repairs at the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Object/Set: Gauri Gill’s Acts of Appearance at the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio, Traces at the Tinguely Museum, Basel, and Projects 108: Gauri Gill at MoMA PS1, New York, among others. Her work is in the collections of prominent institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Museum, London; the Smithsonian Institution, Washington and Fotomuseum, Winterthur. In 2011 she was awarded the Grange Prize, Canada’s foremost award for photography.
In 2022, her first major survey exhibition opened at the Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, Germany and traveled to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk, Denmark in January 2023. Gill recently published two books with Edition Patrick Frey about her collaborations with rural artists, Acts of Appearance (2022) and Fields of Sight (2023). Gill is the recipient of the 2023 Prix Pictet, the global award for photography and sustainability. Gill is based in Delhi.
For nearly two decades, Gauri Gill has investigated the interplay between obscurity and power through her images of daily life in rural India. Initially trained in painting and applied arts in New Delhi, Gill shifted her focus in the early-1990s to study photography in the United States. Since then, Gill has established herself as a force in the photography field, shaping a new image of life in India. Her photographs unearth acts of resilience by honoring her subjects in vernacular moments and moving the spotlight away from the media’s one-dimensional portrayal of oppression, the struggle for education, healthcare and land issues faced by India’s rural and indigenous communities. According to Gill, “the universal is often achieved by looking at the local or the quotidian, things that are familiar and therefore not exotic, but never ordinary.”