Tata Taxi

Tata Truck



Photographs by Ian Atkinson



Ambassador



The work looks at the life of Indian taxi drivers, focussing particularly on the iconic Ambassador taxi. Through the series of images, we see the way the lives of the drivers are intertwined with work, family and national identity as well as their diverse religious beliefs.The work is based around the lives of the Indian Tourist Taxi driver To many of the drivers this iconic vehicle it is not only a method of transportation but a shrine to their God, a place of worship, home - with none of its comforts-, a place to display proud family photo’s and emblems of national identity. These Vehicles are portraits of the very people they represent, displayed for all to see and are in-depth studies of human life in all of its intricacies.



The images show a carefully selected view of the complex identity of the owner/driver, highlighting the cultural identities of the subjects, present or not and give us the viewer the opportunity to understand and revel in the communication between photographer and subject.



Each image is punctuated with its individual owner whether present or not, they tell the story of a nation of many different cultures and religions. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jainsall represented within one single profession. Each driver and indeed Taxi have a story to tell, some tell of westerners purchasing an Ambassador and hiring a driver, after completion of their journey they hand over the keys, as a way of thank you and the prospect of a better life for its new owner.



Some tell of working away from families for months at a time, the Ambassador becoming their home and probably re-enforcing this idea that the taxi becomes a shrine to family and religious beliefs. It is a home from home.