KOMATH PHOTO HOUSE
Research, 2023
The project is glimpse into the body of work of a photo studio on an island that lies between the Arabian Sea in the west and the Cochin backwaters in the east - Vypin. Established in 1940 by Mr. Sreedharan Komath, Komath Photo House has been managed by two generations of the Komath family.
Through the photographs taken by these two generations, the project examines the evolution of photography in the region and the changes it has undergone. The collection spans from pre-colonial India to the post-independence era, reflecting various imaging techniques and resources used over time. The collection of images are from the album made by Mr. Sreedharan Komath titled “Komath Photo House” and include darkroom prints prints from Mr. Jayaprakash Komath’s work.
Parts of the project are displayed below.
Mr Sreedharan Komath, unknown photographer c. 1930
An unknown studio portrait, Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Jayaprakash Komath c. 1970 - c. 1990
Komath studio captured portraits of individuals in and around Vypin, including colonial administration officials. His album prominently features portraits of youth and middle-aged individuals. Most subjects in these photographs are seen looking away from the lens, often with solemn expressions. This was due to the long exposure times required at the time, which necessitated a neutral expression. Depending on the intended purpose, subjects were either standing or seated, though close-up headshots against plain backgrounds were most common. Occasionally, some images were printed with decorative masks, creating borders in shapes like oval or diamond. Women were often photographed in full length to showcase their attire, unlike their male counterparts.
Studio portrait printed with oval masking, Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
Studio portrait, Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Jayaprakash Komath c. 1970-1990, on 35mm film
A group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1930
A group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait of an arts club. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
An unknown group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
An unknown group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait at Kerala Fire Services training centre in Fort Kochi . Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait of an arts club. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
Before the advent of photography, death-related occasions in Kerala were doc- umented through art and oral traditions. With the introduction of photography
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, capturing these events became more com- mon. Initially, photography was primarily used for documenting important social events, including funerals, with a focus on preserving memories of the deceased and the rituals performed.
A group photo taken at an occasion of death. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940
A group portrait of an arts club. Komath Studio Archive, photographed by Sreedharan Komath c. 1940