Mc India
Digital Photomontage
2008
30x40"
Neil Chowdhury
This image is my second attempt to address the mismatch of corporate fast food outlets with India’s Hindu tradition of treating cows with reverence rather than a source of cheap protein. The first image languished on my hard drive for a while because it did not work visually, but the idea lingered in my brain. I am happier with this version. While McDonald’s does exist in India, the patties contain no beef or pork. You can order chicken, fish, or a vegetable patty that contains peas, carrots, green beans, red bell pepper, potatoes, onions, rice, and seasoning. While McD’s website claims that McDonald’s India is “as Indian as you and me,” this line does not entirely shield the corporation from controversy in the subcontinent. My own experience with the franchise in Delhi right before my trip home resulted in a nasty case of food poisoning that made my flight extremely miserable.
Another Man's Treasure
Digital Photomonage
2006
30x60"
Neil Chowdhury
Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, domestic life, and plenty. In this fantasy she pours her blessings upon one of Calcutta’s unfortunate “Untouchables” or Dalits, people of low status birth. He is surrounded by images of material wealth that in real life he has no hope of attaining. While the caste system is illegal by India’s constitution, this class still exists in social practice.
