Juban Lamar

I belong to Jowai, a small town in the North East of India. 

I am a psychologist and folklorist who has a profound interest in research, photography and theatre. I am vividly drawn toward narratives, movement of light and shadow, human emotion and expression, philosophy and anything that helps connect to finding purposefulness. 

As a (self-learning) photographer, I use observation to examine, document, capture and contextualise the ordinary. And within these stories, I try to find meaning, depth and a sense of rootedness. Photography/Art helps me make sense of the world— Art helps us make sense of ourselves.

I work with a team of artists where together we create work that explores notions of identity, gender, conservation etc. Working in a group is exciting. And I think I function well in a team—wherein collective ideas bring in the best outcome, always. 

While much of the ideas of my work come from psychology and folklore— it is the Unitarian values I live by, that allow for awareness and reflection in the same. I am a fourth-generation Unitarian, and I feel this deep sense of comfort, belonging and responsibility to the church and our community. For the past four years, a group of young adults (in our Jowai Congregation) and I have been passionately working in research and the collection of lost archives on our Church Founder, U Hajom Kissor Singh, as well as other materials and books. We have a collective dream to make our little reading space a full-fledged functioning library that is open to all. And we hope to accomplish this dream someday, soon!

I strongly believe in social justice, interdependence, equality and a cleaner environment. 

Taking long walks, being out in nature, and sometimes just staring out into the night sky or a tree is my therapy. I love music, and having conversations over a nice cup of chai.