End of Days, Bogota, Colombia, October 2018 © Saunak Shah

About the Artist:
Saunak Shah is an Indian-born, New York City-based portrait photographer and art director. His work focuses on the underlying narrative of people and the environments they live in. Saunak quit his full-time job as an ACD at IBM iX to go on The Global Pursuit, where he has crossed boundaries farther than continents to connect beyond color, judgement, or bias.

Saunak says, “We live in an age where we are constantly bombarded by imagery and content by the media that dictate what countries and people at large represent. As a person of color living in New York, it was important for me to look inward and this collection of work from 21 countries is a celebration of the people I met, the stories I heard and the strength of the global community at large beyond borders”.

A Rare Find, Lamu, Kenya, May 2018 © Saunak Shah

Cyclops and the Drags, Bogota, Colombia, October 2018 © Saunak Shah

Primal, New York, USA, April 2018 © Saunak Shah

“The Space Between Us”
1 year, 5 continents, 21+ countries

Color of skin, place of birth, and sense of self are factors that directly impact one’s measure of self-worth, social status, and personal and professional success. From November 2017 to November 2018, photographer Saunak Shah traveled to 21 different countries across five continents with Pursuit of Portraits to bridge the gap between online and in-person connections, crossed borders – both physical and metaphorical – to embrace and empower diversity, worked with creatives from all walks of life, and in the process experienced self-discovery, reflection and accountability.

Rococo, Mexico City, Mexico, November 2018 © Saunak Shah

Apostles, Cape Town, South Africa, April 2018 © Saunak Shah

Basaar, Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia, January 2018 © Saunak Shah

Having spent half of his life in India and the other half in the United States, Shah has found himself torn between two cultures constantly at odds with each other and his inner voice. His work is a study into people, the environments they live in, and how culture, identity and one's image dictate those narratives.

This collection of photos are a celebration of life and aim to empower culture over stereotypes. Through exploration with style, color, thematic references and overall mood, Shah strives to focus on the elements that exemplify the spirit of self – bringing to life the uniqueness of people as he endeavors to find the uniqueness within himself.

In a time when social influence and popularity are the benchmarks for what’s trending, Shah’s goal is to positively impact and minimize the space in between all of us. “The Space Between Us” is fueled by a desire to celebrate diversity and inclusivity across race, gender, socio-economic status and the LGBTQ community.