'This Isn’t Divide and Conquer' is a solo exhibition by Aaryan Sinha (b. 2001, New Delhi), a photographer and artist based in The Hague. Bringing together two interrelated bodies of work, the exhibition explores the long shadows of colonialism, the complexity of Indian identity, and the power of photography to shape cultural narratives.
The title project, 'This Isn’t Divide and Conquer', follows Sinha’s journey through five Indian states bordering Pakistan. Through photographs, archival materials,and personal stories, the work reflects on the lasting trauma of the 1947 Partition and its ongoing impact on the people and landscape of the region. Drawing from his own family history, Sinha gives voice to intimate accounts of migration, loss, and survival. At a time of increasing political polarization, the project offers a quiet resistance — highlighting connections across borders and histories often framed through division.
Alongside this, the series 'Namaste or Whatever' examines how photography, onceused as a tool of colonial control, continues to influence how India is portrayed today. By mixing historical research with personal reflection, Sinha interrogates the role of the Western gaze in shaping both global and self-perceptions of Indian identity. As an artist raised in India but working in Europe, he confronts the tensions between cultural authenticity and external expectation.
Through both series, Sinha asks urgent questions about representation, authorship, and inherited narratives. His work challenges dominant frameworks and invites viewers toengage with more layered and self-aware ways of seeing.
Sinha’s work has been exhibited at institutions including FOAM Amsterdam, LUMA Arles, the Nederlands Fotomuseum, and the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation. He was selected as a Foam Talent for 2024–25, and his work has been featured in Foam Magazine, PHMuseum, and Der Greif, among others.