Seven-Time World Press Photography Winner Brings ‘Kolkata Noir’ to India

Seven-time World Press Photography award winner Seamus Murphy is bringing his distinctive visual interpretation of Kolkata to India with an upcoming exhibition at Museo Camera in Gurugram. The exhibition will feature 30 photographs of the city, offering viewers a glimpse of its quieter streets, everyday characters and changing architectural landscape.

Murphy, 66, has spent decades documenting major conflicts and social stories across regions including Afghanistan, Gaza, Sierra Leone, Beirut, Ireland and London. His work has earned international recognition, but his Kolkata project represents a different approach to photography. Rather than documenting a specific news event, Murphy describes himself as an archivist who seeks to preserve ordinary moments and memories through images.

His connection with Kolkata began after a family visit to the city in 2017. Fascinated by its atmosphere and visual character, he began returning regularly and spending months at a time photographing its streets. Carrying a Canon digital camera, he explored the city largely on his own, capturing scenes that might otherwise escape attention.

The resulting photographs move away from the familiar images often associated with Kolkata. Instead, Murphy focuses on fleeting and understated moments — a flower attached to a garbage collector’s bicycle, a child playing football, a crow passing between old buildings and people navigating the city’s crowded streets.

He refers to this visual perspective as “Kolkata noir”, inspired partly by the shadows and dramatic angles created by the city’s architecture, particularly at night. His photographs also document Kolkata’s disappearing Art Deco structures, adding an element of historical preservation to the project.

Murphy distinguishes this work from traditional photojournalism, which is often driven by immediate events and editorial requirements. His personal photography allows him to observe a place over a longer period and capture details that may not have obvious news value.

The exhibition, titled “Life Is In Many Days,” will present Murphy’s 30 Kolkata photographs alongside 77 other works from locations including Russia, North America, Ireland and Afghanistan. Curated by Zelda Cheatle, the exhibition will give Indian audiences an opportunity to see both Murphy’s internationally recognised documentary work and his more personal exploration of everyday life.

Through his Kolkata series, Murphy seeks to preserve moments that are often overlooked, presenting the city not through headlines but through its people, streets, shadows and changing identity.