Hanging out to dry

KEEN photographer Saji Antony was captivated by a colourful array of clothes hung out to dry on a washing line in front of a neighbour's home, writes Shilpa Chandran.

Each day he would pass the property and stop to look at the rich assortment of trousers and shirts blowing in the wind against the backdrop of a crumbling wall.

Mr Antony, 42, an IT administrator in the Royal Family Council, who lives in West Riffa, said: "Clothes lines are prominently displayed in front of several old homes but this one was particularly colourful and stood out against the plain background. It seemed to reflect the colourful character who wore the clothes."

It also told a story of changing lives and moving on ... as the clothes disappeared over time and a depressing transition into ruin became evident as the property was left empty, ready for demolition.

The images - taken between December 2009 and July 2010 - have now become a popular artistic documentary and exhibition piece called Clothes Line.

Mr Antony said: "My work captured the world of retired security guard, Mr Younis, who lived in a house close by and had to vacate the building as it was to be demolished by the owner.

"Whenever Mr Younis hung out his clothes to dry I just had to photograph them because the rich colours looked so striking against the grey wall. However, it is now just an empty space ... no cloth lines and no Mr Younis."

Mr Antony's interest in photography began more than 10 years ago when he bought himself a camera to capture 'anything beautiful'. He added that his 'real passion' was ignited after attending a workshop conducted by well-known photographer Camille Zakharia on documentary photography.

"It opened up for me a whole new perspective," explained Mr Antony. "I then started to go through images of renowned photographers such as Arron Siskind, Henri Cartier, Raghu Rai, Alex Webb as well as Mr Zakharia and also researched several books."

Mr Antony has since exhibited his images at the 'Transformation of Memories' in Al Riwaq Art Space, at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam and in the recent typology exhibition entitled 'Same, Same but Different' held at the Al Riwaq Art Space in Adliya.

Mr Antony, who comes from India, has been a resident on the island for 16 years and lives here with his wife Neetha and their eight-year-old daughter, Michelle.