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Pawan, Chhattisgarh, 2024

Yask Desai

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 Finalist

type C photograph on paper (image: 112.5cm x 150.1cm. sheet: 80.0cm x 120.0cm. frame: 114.0cm x 151.7cm depth 5.6cm)
Pawan, Chhattisgarh, 2024

‘Chhattisgarh is a state in central India that provides significant amounts of power to the country’s electricity grid. It is also the home of my closest friend in India and a place in which I photograph often. For the past three years I’ve dragged my friend out for early morning photo walks. On this day we met Pawan at a local pond where he had gone to bathe. He also showed us his pet turtle collection. The effects of Chhattisgarh’s power success story are writ large, both upon the rapidly urbanising landscape and within its residents’ collective awareness.’

Yask Desai is a Melbourne/Naarm-based visual artist of mixed Australian and Indian heritage. He works with photography, video, archives and text to explore themes of place and collective and individual identity, as well as critiquing global political economies.

People's Choice Award

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

The People’s Choice Award is generously supported by the Calvert-Jones Foundation, with the artist who wins the most votes receiving $10,000.

Voting closes Sunday 28 September 2025.

Submit vote

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025
(More information, View all 48 photos)

Other NPPP photos from Yask Desai
(More information)

Adam, Craigieburn, 2018 by Yask Desai
2019 Finalist

Related information

Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar
Untitled #01 (from the series Code Black/Riot), 2024 Hoda Afshar

National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025

Current exhibition

from Saturday 16 August

The NPPP is an annual prize for Australian photographers. The year’s most outstanding photographic portrait is awarded a $30,000 cash prize and photographic equipment valued at $20,000 courtesy of our Imaging Partner, Canon Australia.
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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