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Forbes Listed Photographer Vicky Roy (Part 3)
In this third part of the series “Rags to Riches”, let’s know about Vicky Roy’s photography. Vicky’s photographs came from his real-life experiences and therefore, they were not just admirable techniques but were sincere emotions. That’s the real reason his photography got appreciation world over and received many awards. Not keeping to oneself that one has learnt but sharing it with others without any expectation from anybody, has made Vicky different from many others.
In 2007, Vicky organised his first solo exhibition displaying some of his best photographs clicked over a period of the past two years. The exhibition called ‘Street Dreams’ was held at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. Impressed by the innovation and the artistic quality of the subjects in the photographs taken by Vicky, this exhibition was supported by the British High Commission. It was this exhibition that gave Vicky the name and fame in the world of photography. Followed by this show, three more shows were held in London. He later received invitations from South Africa and Vietnam too. Many of these pictures were sold, and the bank balance of Vicky which used to be Rs. 3000, his monthly salary, had now increased extensively. Vicky was only in his twenties and his head had become dizzy with the success he got at such an early age. Seeing this, one day Anay Mann Sir called Vicky and very calmly and lovingly made him aware of this. He told Vicky, “Do you remember the way you used to talk to me before this name and fame and do you see the change in you now? These days you counter question me in front of clients and the way you speak is rude. This is not right”. Vicky realised his mistake and apologised to Anay Sir. He promised and assured Anay Sir that this would never happen in future.
Vicky Roy, who made it big at the global level, never again let success intoxicate him. Talk to him today and you can feel it. Gradually, Vicky completed three years working under the able guidance of Anay Mann sir.
Vicky Roy says: ‘When I look back at these photos, it gives me a certain confidence because I know that when I was living that life I had nothing to lose.’ Vicky Roy also speaks of the unique ‘sense of freedom’ he enjoyed in that phase. Photograph from “Street Dreams”
Vicky once told me during a telephonic interview, how he was unfolding his own life through the exhibition ‘Street Dreams’. He was recording his life’s experiences like how he used to live then, how he would bath under the broken water pipeline, etc, through his camera. The purpose behind these photos was that people should look at such children as a part of the society, from the perspective of humanity, and support them.
Looking at Vicky Roy’s photographs, some features stand out. One of his photos from “Street Dreams”, is very telling on this count. When I saw this photograph of Vicky, I was stunned. The artist and art director in me was amazed. This photo has great composition, expressing the message of the subject very effectively, and also the deep thinking and talent of this young photographer. A dog is seen entering an empty, hollow pipe lying somewhere besides the road. Unfortunately, the lives of street children are much similar. The photograph is expressing the sorrows and drifting life of street children. Having this perspective and thought is amazing at Vicky’s age at that time. Though Vicky had not studied art direction, composition till that time, has a natural eye for photography.
Sometimes photographs express more effectively than the words. Unfortunately, the lives of street children are much similar. This photograph is from “Street Dreams”
During the three years that he worked with Anay Sir, he learned all the nuances of indoor and outdoor photography and developed his own direction, and a path ahead.
In 2008 Vicky Roy participated in an International Photographic Competition, organised by the US based Maybach Foundation. For this competition, Vicky submitted photographs from “Street Dreams”. The judges appreciated his photos so much that only four people were selected as the final winners from amongst thousands of entries. Two Photographers from America, one from Hong Kong and one from India. He was Vicky Roy! Vicky Roy became the first Indian artist to get this honour for his country.
In 2009 Roy was selected by the US-based Maybach Foundation as one of four international photographers to document the reconstruction of the World Trade Centre at New York. photograph from WTC 2009.
The winners of this competition received an innovative prize. They were selected to photograph the Twin Towers, which were being rebuilt after being destroyed in a terrorist attack. “I felt that documenting this process was taking part in history and the significance of these pictures may only be known in many years to come.” says Vicky Roy. As part of the program, he undertook a six-month course in documentary photography at the International Centre for Photography, New York. This training added the technical expertise to Vicky’s practical knowledge and experience.
An aerial view of the WTC site. Vicky Roy spent six months on the site as it was being rebuilt, visiting once a week and learning documentary photography at the same time. Photograph from WTC 2009.
His first monograph ‘Home Street Home’ published by the Nazar Foundation released at the second edition of the Delhi Photo Festival (Sept-Oct, 2013) Vicky Roy also got MIT Fellowship through INK Talks in 2014.
By now, Vicky was progressing by leaps and bound, overcoming all obstacles effortlessly. But in this journey, he never forgot his promise to Anay Sir and remained a person with humility despite such great successes.
Even after getting some of the greatest opportunities from America, Britain and many European countries, Vicky decided to come back to his motherland, ‘Sare Jahan se Achcha Hindustan Hamara’ (My India is the best in the world). Vicky chose his motherland as his Karmabhumi (place of work). The city which nurtured and created him, he chose it for his life in India. That is Delhi.
While working on various photographic projects and assignments, Vicky also wanted to do something for the society. How can he repay the debt of the society, the country which gave him such a beautiful life by lifting him from the dirt of the streets? That’s when an idea took birth. He decided to provide a free photography books library for those who wanted to learn photography. Vicky along with his colleague Chandan Gomes, started “Rang Open Library” in Delhi in 2011. Vicky asked the best photographers from around the world for their books on photography for this library. The appeal received a great response and more than 450 renowned photographers from all over the world sent their photography books. Gradually, an up-to-date library on the subject was created. The library opened for an alternate Sunday free for all who wanted to learn photography. Along with this, every time a renowned photographer was invited to interact with these young upcoming photographers. Vicky also organised workshops in Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, where he would often carry some books from his library while going for this workshop.
An image of Bara Lacha pass, Himachal Pradesh. The photographs about human disruption to the natural landscape were exhibited in New Delhi in 2015. Photograph from, “This Scarred Land: New Mountainscape.”
In the year 2017, the photographs about human disruption to the natural landscape were exhibited in New Delhi. “With all my photographs I took these ones with a message in mind for the people who see them”, says Vicky Roy about the series depicting built environments in the Himalayas. “All of these photographs of the mountains have a question mark and I want people to think about that.” says Vicky in 2017 regarding this photographic project.
The Bara Iacha Pass, Himachal Pradesh, This Scarred Land, which shows the ‘rush towards development and the torment of the majestic mountains, rocks, rivers and valleys as they are diesel-spewing machines’, Vicky Roy has said. Photograph from “This scarred Land: New Mountainscape”
The project “Rang Open Library”, continued consistently for seven years. But day by day Vicky started getting so busy with his projects that he decided to move the project to now we shifted this library in (GP PRO Camera Store, O-9, Veer Savarkar Marg, Block O, Lajpat Nagar II, New Delhi, Delhi 110024) here people can visit any day 11am to 6pm, where these books are available to refer to the readers free-of-cost.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Pratod Karnik
Author is an Artist and Advertising Professional
Photo credit: All photographs in this article are clicked by Vicky Roy
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