Nishant Shukla's Himalayan Quest for a Miraculous Spring

Nishant Shukla (born 1982, Liverpool) undertook five journeys between 2011 and 2016 to the Gangotri glacier, source of the Ganges, in search of a miraculous spring requested by his dying grandfather. Despite taking some 1,600 photographs, no trace of the spring was found. The artist's quest became an unintended process of catharsis and spiritual purification. His images capture ascetic Hindu hermits living in caves, wind-polished boulders, and fir forests, all in an atmosphere of silence and timeless spirituality. The work is compiled in a catalog resembling a precious travel notebook, featuring details of rocks and plants reminiscent of ancient herbariums, along with annotations of dialogues and thoughts from his arduous walks. The exhibition is on view in Cagliari.