Mumbai Noise: A picture of modern Mumbai, full of contrasts
"From a young age, almost immediately after I was born, I often travelled to India to spend time with my grandmother in Chembur, Mumbai. I have very vivid childhood memories of my experiences there – and after she passed away, I didn't return until I was in my twenties. When I came back, the city looked completely different, but it still felt very familiar to me. With Mumbai Noise, I wanted to express this idea: an approach to the city today, combined with my memories of its past." – Ben Gorham, founder & creative director of Byredo
With Mumbai Noise, Ben Gorham paints an intimate portrait of a city that is central to his identity – both in its sensual richness and its complex modernity. The fascinating density of Chembur's streets – the smoky haze of incense and burning wood, interspersed with roadside coffee carts and cacophonous soundscapes – is explored through a contemporary lens, paying tribute to both the city's cultural heritage and the evolution of its energy.
The concept of vibrant diversity is reflected in a fragrance that is full of contrasts: rich, warm woods and amber blend with clarity, plummy davana stands alongside leather, bitter coffee mixes with sweet tonka beans. ‘An abundance of sensory experiences is very typical of Mumbai – from the moment you step off the plane, you know you're in a different place,’ says Gorham. ‘Mumbai Noise is about the overwhelming power of a place.’
Gorham's nostalgia is complemented by a photo campaign by Ashish Shah that documents his vision of Mumbai today – from subcultural communities to contemporary youth movements, the dreams and realities of a new generation.
‘The Western view of India is probably the same today as it was a century ago,’ says Gorham. ‘But Mumbai is a melting pot of modernity. Through Mumbai Noise and Ashish's images, two perspectives collide.’
