STEVE MCCURRY | BOY IN MID-FLIGHT, JODHPUR, INDIA

Acquired directly from the artist in 2013 

In this breathtaking scene, Steve McCurry has captured the hidden-depths of the mystical city of Jodhpur in India. McCurry photographed the famous blue city on multiple occasions, most typically through close-up scenes within its narrow streets. The blue buildings of Jodhpur are often associated with Lord Shiva (The Lord of Divine Energy) and his Brahmin followers, who believe that the color is sacred. Other theories attribute it to the presence of copper-sulphate in the original white paint of the buildings, or to the indigo trade around Jodhpur during the colonial period. Whilst the exact reason behind the blue of Jodhpur remains unclear, the awe-inspiring appearance of this city is undeniable.

In McCurry’s photograph, the blue walls are covered with red hand-prints, often placed after animals are sacrificed during religious ceremonies and believed to ward off evil spirits.The fleeing mysterious boy and implausible perspective of the cities hidden streets, all serve to render this composition as an other-worldly paradise.