Christopher Pinney
Christopher Pinney is an
anthropologist and art historian, and Professor of Anthropology and Visual Culture at
University College London. He is known for his studies on the visual culture of South Asia, specifically India. He was honoured by the
Government of India, in 2013, by bestowing on him the
Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of literature.
Christopher Pinney has travelled India and his collection of
chromolithographs cover the rural Madhya Pradesh during the turn of the century, cultural festivals like
Kumbh Mela,
Holi and Rang Panchami, historical sites such as Hussain Tekri, Bheruji Mandir, South Park Street Cemetery and Indian Museum in Kolkata, and places like Nepal, Varanasi and Sri Lanka.
Pinney has worked and taught at many institutions such as
Australian National University,
University of Chicago,
University of Cape Town, and
Jawaharlal Nehru University. He works as
Professor of Anthropology and Visual Culture at the
University College, London and as the Crowe Visiting Professor of Art History at the
Northwestern University.
Christopher Pinney has published many books and ''Camera Indica: The Social Life of Indian Photographs'', ''Photos of the Gods'' and ''The Coming of Photography in India'' are some of the notable ones.
Pinney has collaborated in the publication of many journals and other publications in the capacity of Editor. he was the co-editor of ''Beyond aesthetics: Art and the technologies of enchantment'', ''Pleasure and the nation: the history, politics and consumption of public culture in India'',; and ''Photography's other histories''.