Vasantha Yoganathan (FR)
Afterlife
29 April 2022 - 30 June 2022
![Image: Vasantha Yogananthan, [Rama Praying for Victory], 2019, from the series [Afterlife]. Courtesy the artist and Jhaveri Contemporary.](https://photo.org.au/api/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/HERO-Vasantha-Yogananthan-Rama-Praying-for-Victory-2019-from-the-series-Afterlife.-Courtesy-the-artist-and-Jhaveri-Contemporary.-Web-RS-136x200.jpg "HERO Vasantha Yogananthan, Rama Praying for Victory, 2019, from the series Afterlife. Courtesy the artist and Jhaveri Contemporary. Web RS")
Image: Vasantha Yogananthan, Rama Praying for Victory, 2019, from the series Afterlife. Courtesy the artist and Jhaveri Contemporary.
Image: Vasantha Yogananthan, Rama Praying for Victory, 2019, from the series Afterlife. Courtesy the artist and Jhaveri Contemporary.
When
29 April 2022 - 30 June 2022
Region
Parliament Precinct
Venue
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins [i]
25 Collins St, Melbourne
Daily, 8am – 6pm
No public access: 15—17 June
Theme
Mortality
Accessibility
Wheelchair access
Price
Free
Afterlife is the sixth chapter of Vasantha Yogananthan’s long-term project, A Myth of Two Souls, inspired by, and offering a modern retelling of the epic tale the Ramayana. Drawing inspiration from the imagery associated with this myth and its pervasiveness in everyday Indian life, Yogananthan has retraced the legendary route from north to south India.
For this chapter—presented exclusively in Australia for PHOTO 2022—Yogananthan travelled to Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu to photograph people attending Dussehra, a Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Afterlife explores death and reincarnation through the epic battle between Prince Rama(an incarnation of Vishnu) and the 10-headed demon king Ravana, with the characters depicted by festival goers Yogananthan encountered in costumes and painted faces.
People attending Dussehra seek to reach a trance-like state and Yogananthan has created collages that mix several pictures together to put the viewer in a similar state of disorientation.
Curated by Photo Australia
Presented in partnership with Sofitel Melbourne on Collins
Supported by Fini Frames
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no public access to Sofitel from 15—17 June.
![Image: Vasantha Yogananthan, [Sita Praying for Victory], 2019, from the series [Afterlife]. Courtesy the artist and Jhaveri Contemporary](https://photo.org.au/api/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Sita_Praying_For_Victory-137x200.jpg "Sita_Praying_For_Victory")
![Image: James Henry, [Aunty Marlene], from the series [Kulin Generations], 2022. Commissioned by Photo Australia for PHOTO 2022 International Festival of Photography. Courtesy the artist.](https://photo.org.au/api/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Aunty-Marlene-Web-RS-150x200.jpg "Aunty Marlene Web RS")