While the world of most art forms in India is booming, photography still doesn't seem to get much attention in the country's art circles, and only a handful of galleries, like Photoink in Delhi, focus on it. In Bombay, the only private gallery to show exclusively photography, both by national and international artists, is Matthieu Foss Gallery.

The gallery was founded in 2007 by Matthieu Foss, who moved to India from France, where he was part of the founding team of Paris Photo. Dedicated to photography in all any form Matthieu Foss Gallery is designed to serve as an open platform that can be easily adapted to the needs of different exhibitions and art works.

Amongst the artists they represent there are a few of our favourite ones and we are particularly excited about the upcoming show by young Indian photographer Vidisha Saini. Her series "Pratibimb", part of which was published in Motherland's Parties Issue, is going to be shown in its entirety together with "Showtime."

In "Pratbimb" (reflection), Saini took portraits of Behrupiyas, costumed performers who live in their character, changing costume every 42 days to become someone else. Their costumes - ranging from jokers to religious preachers - are inspired by popular culture, religion, politics, history. The series of colourful, slightly surreal images on one hand documents the visual culture of India, on the other offers a chance to reflect on the idea of living with an alter ego and on the issue of changing identities.

"Showtime," instead, is a collection of potraits of circus artists a few minutes before and then after their act. Again, in this series the author explores the issue of different identities and their coexistence.

From a man dressed up as a monkey from Ram's army to a woman ready to do their circus number with parrots, both the series question the idea of identity and transformation though two communities that as old and traditional as often unknown.