A book featuring the best work of one of Coventry’s most celebrated photographers, Maganbhai Patel was launched on Tuesday at St Mary's Guildhall. Known as Masterji, the artist's book will be a collection of 66 photos taken by him in the span of his career. The release comes a year after the successful 'Masterji Coventry' exhibition in The Box at Fargo Village. His work has been showcased in Mumbai and New York. The 95 year old has been photographed South Asian immigrants in the city since the 1950s, however, has only recently found recognition.
The book has been written and compiled Maganbhai's daughter Tarla Patel, and Photo Archives Miners. It also includes an introduction by Dr Mark Sealy highlighting the importance of the photographs that mark the transitional moment in both, British and Indian history. “Masterji gives a voice to those forgotten in the past, at a time when people were facing adversity in jobs, education and housing because of their colour. This book shows proud people, determined and confident in who they are,” Tarla said.
Mark Cook of the Photo Archive Miners said, “The book is very much a celebration of Masterji's photography, it lets the photographs tell their own story and features an introduction from the man himself. To hold the launch at a unique historic location in the city is brilliant, it really proves the city wants to celebrate Masterji's success and the following he has developed in the last year. We think it is a wonderful story for the city and for his family, something that really excites us and deserves to be told.”
