Artist Shubha Tirumale, a former Issaquah Highlands resident, is displaying her photography at Blakely Hall throughout summer. She welcomes residents, visitors and art enthusiasts to view her exhibition “A Cultural Journey” to explore the richness of diverse cultures as captured through her lens.
Photographer Shubha Tirumale captures “Chaitra,” a traditional dance in India.
Tirumale’s photography is a banquet of colors, textures and storytelling. She captures the beauty of global traditions, landscapes and everyday life, transporting viewers to distant places with her art. She enjoys being able to narrate a story through visual art.
Tirumale’s passion for photography began with her father’s love of cameras. She used to experiment with his film equipment before receiving her first digital camera as a teenager. In 2012, she was gifted with a DSLR camera by her husband, which reignited her enthusiasm for taking photos.
“Culture is a very important subject for an artist like me,” she says. “My love for photography, combined with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, brought the more serious artist out in me.”
Her techniques have continued to evolve over the years. She sees photography as a lifelong learning journey shaped by books, museums, travel and the works of other inspiring artists.
Tirumale believes cultural photography reveals the common threads that unite people across different customs, languages, traditions and landscapes.
Her exhibition “A Cultural Journey” features a collection of people, places, cultures and experiences in Tirumale’s life. She hopes to showcase “our beautiful and diverse world” through these storytelling photos, she says.
One of her most personal works “Chaitra” captures Yakshagana, a traditional dance from Karnataka, India. She finds it especially meaningful how this form of dance has evolved beyond gender barriers to welcome all who are passionate about it.
Tirumale captures spontaneous moments that reflect a place’s culture. Her creative process involves immersing herself in daily life, allowing her to authentically portray a community’s spirit and personality.
“I try to capture images from what I feel—such as the unique sights, sounds, smells and emotions of people, landscape and architecture,” she explains. “I bear in mind that I need to be kind and respectful to all cultures and communities as every day is a learning journey.”
Air balloons fill the sky as Shubha Tirumale photographs the sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey.
For Tirumale, the most rewarding aspect of her summer exhibition is the opportunity to share and celebrate different cultures.
“I started my photography journey in Issaquah. And now, to showcase what I have captured in the Blakely Hall Gallery makes my heart sing with joy,” she exclaims.
Looking to the future, Tirumale hopes to document as many cultural practices and dance forms as possible. She emphasizes the role of artists in preserving moments through photography, enabling future generations to learn from them.
She advises aspiring photographers to become part of the cultures they capture, focusing on the journey as an artist rather than approaching it from a tourist’s perspective.
“A Cultural Journey” is more than an art exhibition—it’s a chance to see the world from another’s eyes. Visit Blakely Hall this summer to experience the richness of diverse cultures as captured through the lens of Shubha Tirumale.
Anisha Arasu is a member of the Highlands Youth (HY) Advisory Board and a Summit Park resident.
