A psychoanalyst once told me that memory is what you wish to remember. I was repeatedly reminded of this insight while viewing No Longer a Memory, the latest solo exhibition by BS Shivaraju, popularly known as Cop Shiva, and curated by Joshua Muyiwa.

The photo performance series draws upon the artist’s memories of growing up in Bannikuppe in rural Karnataka surrounded by local myths, legends, folktales and stories that he often enacted with his mother at home.

Excerpts:

Excerpts:

How did you conceive this project?

That’s a long story. If you may recall, before the arrival of digital photography, our visits to friends and family involved a viewing of the family photo album which comprised photos with parents, siblings, extended family, and friends. This happened with me over and over again. And while I was always fascinated with the ritual of the family album and what it contained, I realised that I didn’t have one for myself and my family.

I grew up poor. Very poor. My mother worked as an agricultural labour for more than three decades to raise three children. My father, though around, was never much of a help. My mother knew that she had to get out of the house and work to support the family. She...