Ken Narula: Iris & Lens

While searching for the perfect, the imperfect is what makes a photograph memorable. - Ken Narula

Ken Narula began collecting all things Leica at the turn of the century. What initially started as a passion developed into an extensive collection, as his appreciation of the camera company's craftsmanship and iconic, compact design grew, alongside his fascination for photography. In his photographic works, Narula uses the camera to capture moments in unscripted life situations, demonstrating a great rapport towards those present: from melancholic daydreaming to the deepest feelings of nostalgia.

Divided into two volumes, Iris & Lens thematically reflects Narula's distinctive role as both photographer and collector. The first volume, "Iris," offers a series of photographs he made between 2017 and 2022. The 50 black-and-white images were all taken with Narula's array of Leica cameras and lenses, which he features in the second volume, "Lens".

From his extensive collection, spanning 100 years of Leica's technical history, Narula presents a minimalistic, up-close look at 50 lenses which he primarily uses for his own work, highlighting their unique characteristics. With this careful juxtaposition of object and subject, Narula invites us to engage with the interplay between the iris of the human eye and the technically near-perfect lens.