Jibak Bhattacharya, an oncologist at Kolkata's Apollo multispeciality hospital, captured a powerful image of construction workers on scaffolding using an iPhone 16 in 2024. The photo, titled 'Caged,' reflects his observation of how individuals isolate themselves within their own small worlds.
A break from the consultation suite
Bhattacharya's consultation suite lacks windows, so he often steps onto a landing with a large glass window to enjoy sunlight between seeing patients. The view, once unobstructed nature, now features a developing high-rise. He noticed three workers on scaffolding forming a pattern reminiscent of noughts and crosses.
'I had an idea to show how we, as individuals, are bound and engaged in our small worlds,' Bhattacharya said. 'Though we are part of a larger frame, we keep ourselves in small cages, without connecting to others.'
Minimal edits for claustrophobic effect
Bhattacharya applied minimal edits, mostly cropping out remaining green bushes to enhance the claustrophobic look. The image underscores the precarious existence of Indian construction workers, whose artistry in masonry is often underpaid and accompanied by severe social and financial hardships.
'As a kid, I wondered about the masons who put the concrete and cement so perfectly on the bricks. It is quite artistic, no doubt. But it is not well paid, and poverty is not something I romanticise,' he said. 'In my job, I have come across a lot of the social, financial and logistical problems these people have to face, and their suffering is unbearable at times. Nobody should suffer like that.'
