Cultural Mix – A photography group exhibition featuring Per Ole Hagen, Marco Toschetti and Harini Narayan
1-18 March 2023
Zari Gallery is proud to be showing the work of photographers Per Ole Hagen, Marco Toschetti and Harini Narayan with our exhibition Cultural Mix.
It’s long been said that a picture is worth one thousand words. Our cultural hub’s new exhibition, however, promises to allow each visitor the experience of taking one thousand journeys as it presents an eclectic variety of photographs from three gifted artists.
There will be a true mix on the show as the artists all showcase their different work, which – while all in the same form – lean upon an incredibly diverse amount of influences and experiences. The artists all are skilled at telling the most gripping stories with their work – and you can expect that no two stories will be alike.
Those who attend this exhibition can look forward to being taken on a different journey through every piece. You’ll feel like you’re in countries that you’re yet to travel to, attending events that you couldn’t get tickets for, and experiencing moments in time that has long since passed.
The images will make you feel like a bystander on different adventures – transported across the globe from the comfort of our art gallery in Fitzrovia, London.
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to experience different cultures and locations first-hand in the way that these three talented photographers have done, but this exhibition is your opportunity to take your own adventure and become enlightened to a world that might be quite unlike your own.
Cultural Mix promises to be an unforgettable experience when it opens on 1st March 2023. We’d like to invite you to come and join us at any point before the exhibition closes on 18th March 2023.
These photographs are most powerful when experienced in person, so be sure to take up this fantastic opportunity to bask in this outstanding Cultural Mix.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
PER OLE HAGEN
Per Ole Hagen certainly knows a thing or two about music – and for many, nothing, better showcases the culture of a city, country or even a continent more than music. Norwegian photographer Hagen has attended countless festivals and concerts over the space of 20 years, which in turn has allowed him to capture photos of over 2,000 different artists. This includes the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and Metallica. A collection of these images will be on show at Cultural Mix. This means visitors will have the fantastic opportunity to feel like they were at sold-out events that have become a part of music history. You can expect to feel the atmosphere, sense the emotion and gage the magnitude of different concerts through the photographs on show.
Over the years, Hagen’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including in countries such as Poland, Lithuania and Switzerland. In 2019 he won second prize in a music photography competition held by the famous Preus Museum in Norway. Hagen’s passion for all things music isn’t just evidenced through his time behind the lens. Instead, he has heaps of industry experience – including working as the head of music at Norway’s largest radio station, NRK P1, and later as the manager of music rights at NRK.
Since 2016 he’s also taught Music Business at a university in Oslo and has had his work published in publications such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, NME, People Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Guitar Player, Forbes and more as a contributor for Getty Images. In 2021 the book “Da Musikken Stilnet” (When the Music Stopped), featuring Hagen’s photos, won the prize for the best music journalism in Norway.
MARCO TOSCHETTI
There are few things more life-changing than travel, but so few of us have the opportunity to cover as many miles as we’d like to. Marco Toschetti, however, has been fortunate enough to see many rare and wonderful sights from east to west – and thankfully, these have been exquisitely documented in the most incredible photos. You’ll be able to share in the magic of Toschetti’s adventures when his pieces go on show for Cultural Mix. Just some of the places he’s journeyed to include China, Namibia, Peru and Iran. Just to exemplify the distance he’s travelled to capture these stunning images: there are more than 10,500 miles between China and Peru!
First bitten by the travelling bug while growing up in Italy, Toschetti has long been fascinated with experiencing other countries and, in the process, has nurtured a stunning talent for capturing some of the most powerful sights along the way. This includes the beauty of nature and human societies. Now based in London and splitting his time between his passion for photography and his career in the finance sector, Toschetti’s previous exhibitions have seen his photography being lauded when featured at galleries in London.
![Lights of Isfahan[10196]](https://zarigallery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Lights-of-Isfahan10196.jpg)
NARINI NARAYAN
Harini Narayan is a heady mix of being a doctor, an artist and a photographer. Her passion for art and archaeology and her extensive research into ancient civilizations have motivated her solo travel to some of the most dangerous and remote places in the world, completely off any safe tourist trail.
Her photography and paintings have recorded the fascinating art, architecture and scripts of these ancient sites, some which are rapidly disappearing due to wanton human destruction or neglect. Her explorations have taken her through mud tracks, little-known tiny villages, and caves that even the locals did not know existed.
Travelling as a solo woman, she has risked capture or worse during certain journeys to places that are still off-limits for visitors. Driven by an overwhelming drive to personally experience and record what remains of ancient civilizations, Narayan attributes her escape from such situations to good luck and to the kindness of strangers!
Her photographs reflect chance encounters that have provided amazing glimpses of people, places and events
taking her to remote places in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Mexico, Bhutan, Borneo, Cambodia, Malta, to name but a few. Behind each photograph in the Cultural Mix is an individual story.
Narayan’s trusted camera has allowed her to capture gripping photos from these places, as well as unique images that reflect the weird and the wacky in nature. Narayan’s website features a section which is accurately named ‘Unusual Photos’. It’s certainly true to say that these live up to their label!
A mesmerising sample of photographs from her vast collection will be on show at Cultural Mix , .
In her own words, Narayan says: “My aim is to inspire those who see my art to pause and look more carefully at the world around, to share my passion for unusual images, places and amazing people.”
Narayan is originally from India, but, for the majority of her life, has lived in the UK. She’s an extremely successful doctor, having worked as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the NHS. During this time, she has become exceptionally well respected and has published a speciality textbook on obstetrics.
