Magenta, yellow, white, and blue windows radiate. Pale light gleams past thick columns with intricate patterns and pictures with golden undertones and pool onto mosaic floors and what appears to be a couch draped with cloth and a tiger. Yes, I said it. A tiger drapes itself upside down on what appears to be clothed couch in the middle of an ornate palace. The tiger lies belly up and stares fascinated at what appears to be a piece of meat dangling from the ceiling.

India is alive in a photograph.

Parts of Karen Knorr’s photography combine the animals in Indian fables with its elaborate palaces of the past. Her photographs emanate a surreal sense of exotic storytelling involving history in addition to an atmosphere of self discovery regarding India. Self discovery? Yes. In her work, I see a sense of wonder and discovery and journey in the expression and pose of each animal in places outside their normal environment. Self discovery involves stepping out of one’s normal perceptual abilities. These photographed animals are strategically inserted by Knorr into these Indian places of political and historical significance. As you probably already guessed, the storytelling and self discovery not only address India but the overall human experience. In another words, her work transcends cultural boundaries.

This human experience is evidenced by the tangible emotions so obvious within these photographed animals transposed into their surreal environments. For example, often times these animals are seen striding across royal-looking carpets, or sitting and standing still posed with head tilted. Light peeking through windows is often times surrounding or pooled onto the animal. These poses in addition to the lighting and the concept of windows contribute to a sense of introspection and contemplation that allows depth and a sense of internal change to permeate each photograph.

In addition to themes underlying Karen Knorr photography, I see breathtaking aesthetics. The ornate décor of palaces in certain photos, the colors-some rich and vibrant, the spacing, the light, and the central focus of the animal’s pose all contribute to poetic imagery that not only tells a story but enamors the eyes.

India Song moves to a rhythm that speaks to the journey we walk ourselves.

The Danziger Gallery is located at 527 West 23^rd Street, New York. India Song exhibition runs until December 23, 2011.

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