Beyond violence, through a lens

KOLKATA: Did you know that the custom of arranged marriages exists not only in India, but also in faraway Israel? Renowned photographer Aharon Rothschild is working on this, among many other striking similarities between diverse cultures, shot through his lens.
From closely experiencing the Amanah protests in Israel to showcasing Ground Zero, the renowned New York-based photographer is in the city to capture life and experiences beyond the vicious cycle of violence.On a year's sabbatical, Aharon wants to document his experiences from the eyes of Indian society, not as an outsider.
An exhibition of Rothschild's photographs, on the fusion of spirituality and sensuality, is currently on at the Weavers Studio Centre for the Arts. It will remain open from 10 am to 7 pm on all days except Sundays till March 5.
Interestingly, Aharon is working on the similarities of arranged marriages in Indian and Western societies. "During my previous visit a year ago, I discovered the existence of arranged marriages in India, which is similar to traditional Jewish weddings something that my parents had. So, I decided to capture the similarities between the societies in terms of arranged marriage," said the ace photographer.
Aharon finds many similarities between Israel and India, as both are terror-hit countries. "The frames captured for any news report is no different. It's the same violence and death shot in different places and times. I wanted to break out of it and do something happy and meaningful," he said.
After arranged marriages, Aharon plans to work on eunuchs. "In the US, the third gender is just like the other genders. Here, they are an exclusive group, which is a revelation," he said.