The Bombay Kids Kalpesh Lathigra

When I returned to Mumbai from Junagadh , I was hanging out with one of my dearest friends Smita Lasrado just people watching , catching up on life and enjoying the city. I had been in Gujarat for almost a month making new work as part of my trilogy of photographs relating to my relationship with India. My family left in 1955 for Kenya and then ultimately to the UK. This new body of work is in some ways a departure for me - much looser and relaxed and definitely no melancholy!

I mentioned to Smita how much the kids in Mumbai have a vibe and I wanted to photograph some of them – It was a recognition and amalgamation of style , confidence , fashion , culture and individuality with their energy that just shines all the way! I wish in many ways I could describe it better but I have a saying about “magic dust” whenever I think of great photographs and I think it relates further in the context of these young people – they have it ! What is striking I feel is the self-belief in their aspirations and the way their independent spirit connects internationally and recognize the cross culture. So we took to the streets to make this very relaxed collaboration - basically me making personal work meeting old friends beautiful @iamdamiondias and @roselyn- nrraj who were both in Memoire Temporelle and making new ones @nyctophilicwan- nabe @ansel_ferns @lanemiserables_ along the way! Coffees and crossaints , coconut water at The Bandstand , and some amazing brekkie at a tea cafe and a lot of laughter... I am Missing the City by The Sea and this is A Work in Progress for sure!