‘As individuals, we keep ourselves in cages, without connecting to others’: Jibak Bhattacharya’s best phone picture
Jibak Bhattacharya's Best Phone Picture: A Metaphor for Modern Life
As individuals we keep ourselves in cages - this observation captures the essence of oncologist Jibak Bhattacharya's award-winning phone photograph. Taken in 2024 during a brief respite from his busy schedule at Kolkata's Apollo multispeciality hospital, the image has resonated with viewers worldwide. The consultation suite where Bhattacharya works lacks windows, creating a sense of confinement that mirrors the human condition. "I often crave sunlight between seeing patients, so I step out on to the landing, which has a huge square glass window where you can enjoy the outside view," he explains.
The photograph captures three construction workers positioned on scaffolding, their arrangement forming a pattern reminiscent of noughts and crosses. Bhattacharya noticed how a straight line could be drawn through their formation, creating a visual metaphor for isolation within community. "I had an idea to show how we, as individuals, are bound and engaged in our small worlds," he says. "Though we are part of a larger frame, we keep ourselves in small cages, without connecting to others."
"As individuals we keep ourselves in cages, without connecting to others." - Jibak Bhattacharya
The Workers and Their World
Indian construction workers like those featured in the photograph lead precarious lives that often go unnoticed by the general public. Bhattacharya recalls his childhood fascination with these skilled laborers. "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," he reflects. The precision and artistry of their work deserves recognition beyond mere functionality.
The setting of the photograph adds another layer of meaning. Previously, the view from the landing offered unobstructed nature, but urban development is changing the landscape. "Previously, it was unobstructed nature, but they are developing a high-rise now," Bhattacharya notes. This transformation parallels the way modern life increasingly separates people from natural connections.
Social Commentary Through Photography
Bhattacharya's approach to the image was deliberate and thoughtful. He applied minimal edits to the photograph, "mostly cropping out some remaining green bushes to give a more claustrophobic look." This subtle adjustment enhanced the feeling of confinement that the image conveys to viewers.
The social dimension of the photograph extends beyond its visual composition. "But it is not well paid, and poverty is not something I romanticise," Bhattacharya states candidly. Through his medical practice, he has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by these workers. "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."
The image serves as a powerful reminder of how modern society functions. While we may be physically close to one another, we often remain emotionally distant. The scaffolding workers, though working together on the same structure, each occupy their own space within the larger framework. This metaphor extends to urban life, where people move through shared spaces without meaningful connection.
Bhattacharya's photograph transcends its simple composition to become a commentary on contemporary existence. The title "As individuals we keep ourselves in cages" perfectly encapsulates the human experience of being simultaneously connected and isolated. Through this single image, the oncologist has captured something universal about the human condition - our tendency to remain within our own boundaries despite being part of a larger whole.