Karen Cox is an award-winning photographer who works both in Ireland and internationally. Her work spans documentary photography and photojournalism to record both known and untold visual narratives. In this article Karen remembers her time in north west India and guides us through a selection of photographs from her new exhibition, ‘Women of the Thar Desert’.
“In September 2022, I was commissioned to spend time in the Thar desert in Rajasthan, India to document the work of an NGO called OneProsper International who work to help educate the women and girls of the desert through sustainable efforts including the basic amenities for survival. These programmes are focused on innovative farming practices, water, nutrition and educational support in an effort to improve these women’s lives. The following are the backgrounds on four images from the exhibition – ‘Women of the Thar Desert’.
This was on one of the first days in the desert and we had just arrived at a water pond – I remember stepping out of the vehicle into the searing heat and this woman was walking up from the pond. I was immediately struck by the beauty and tranquility of the scene. She was elegant, graceful and colourful. This image will always remain with me as it was probably at that moment that I decided that as well as documenting the work of the NGO, it was important to record the beauty and resilience of these women in such an incredibly difficult and inhospitable environment – in a way, a synthesis of beauty and hardship.
I seemed to focus a lot on hands during this assignment and I think that may have been for the obvious reasons that they are these women’s tools to survive in a way and so adorned with rings and bangles. Tending to crops often means very long days of working in the fields and this takes its toll physically on these women in particular their hands. In a sense, their hands are representative of their lives – tough, scarred but resilient and decorated.
Water is everything in the Thar Desert – the ultimate means of survival. For the women and girls of the Thar Desert, the daily challenges are considerable and the basic need for water dominates all else. They can spend up to 7 hours a day collecting water. I spent quite a lot of time photographing water collection at ponds – the women were always focused, determined and dressed so colourfully.
This portrait in the exhibition is one I will always remember making – this woman was striking on many levels. She represents the strength and tenacity of these desert women. Nothing is easy yet they show immense resilience and courage”.
Karen Cox
The ‘Women of the Thar Desert‘ will be on display at Galway City Museum until October 2024. The exhibition spans both indoor and outdoor gallery space. Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. Galleries close at 4:45pm. Admission is free.
