Motherland, an Indian cultural magazine launched in 2012 by the ad agency Wieden + Kennedy in Delhi, is an important publication in contemporary Indian photography. We conducted an interview with the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Annette Ekin.
How would you describe Motherland?
Annette Ekin: Motherland is a quarterly magazine dedicated to Indian pop culture. Each issue carries a theme: prisons, parties, the states of North East India and, in our latest issue, ghosts.
Every issue features around fifteen stories with an article and photography, two strictly photographic reports, and ample space for illustration and graphic design. We print about 15,000 copies of each issue.
Why did you create Motherland?
A.E: Because this kind of magazine didn’t exist in India! We wanted to create something that would reflect the richness and diversity of Indian pop culture. Because this culture is so very alive, we appeal to a younger generation of journalists, writers, photographers and illustrators to decipher it for our readers. We want to share with our readers different perspectives on a given topic.
How do you select the photographs for Motherland?
A.E: The photographer Bharat Sikka oversees the photography. For example, in our latest issue, Ghost Stories, he selected a series of new photographs by Dileep Prakash. This photographer shows us the bungalows in the Himalayas and West Bengal where he spent holidays as a child. They are homes deep in the mountains, some of which haven’t changed since the British built them at the turn of the last century. Many lack electricity and running water, and they’re filled with the sounds of the forest and ghost stories.
What’s next for Motherland?
A.E: We’re working on an iPad version that will help us expand our readership.
Sybile Girault
