Auto-Art

This is an ongoing project, that I began in 2005, to photograph the interiors of auto rickshaws in India. I started this project on a whimsical note while commuting to work and back home in these rickshaws, but after I observed the rich colors, texture and patterns in the initial photos I began to take more interest. I temporarily had to stop this project after I immigrated to the US in late 2006. I plan to continue when I am in India.

Thousands of autorickshaws ply across most Indian cities and towns, and are one of the most popular means of public transportation. The rickshaws are also a window to the culture of a place – painted in vibrant colors, many of them are decorated with religious motifs, Bollywood actors, and local art and talisman. They provide a good canvas to study the iconography of a region.