©Pietro Masturzo
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© Yann Gross
Horizonville
Introduction by Pascal Beausse
Exploring by moped, Yann Gross slows down time to develop an ethnographic study of a
group of people living out their dreams. Recreating a world of American culture in a Swiss
valley only makes sense if it entails inventing a new cultural identity that forges a bond
between people in that community. The social component of these practices goes way
beyond leisure to create a new model of everyday life. It is the construction of a collective
fantasy world in reality. As Slavoj Zizek puts it, “Welcome to the desert of the real!”
Here an artificial universe based on imaginary notions from film and television has been
adapted to the everyday reality of a part of Switzerland very far removed from the Rocky
Mountains of the Wild West, but also very far removed from any reality of life in America.
The different events and gatherings that cement the bonds between all these people who
gird themselves with symbols of the American Dream lend it the force of reality.
It is certainly less about recreating a piece of America in part of the Rhône Valley than
about creating a new culture, new practices and identities, fusing Swiss realities with the
imaginary American Way of Life à la Hollywood.
Yann Gross does not attempt to explain this singular sociocultural phenomenon, much less
judge or even mock it. He takes a highly empathetic, humanly intelligent approach. Like the
character in David Lynch’s film The Straight Story who travels across the vast spaces of
America by mini tractor, he slows the pace of his perception in exploring the valley by
moped, towing a trailer that allows him to camp wherever he sets up his tripod.
This patient and genuinely curious approach means that he is accepted by the people who
are the subject of his photographic investigation. The trust he elicits enables him to
develop several different complementary modes of representation, from posed portraits to
snapshots of the rites and festivals where the tribe assembles.
Landscape photographs revealing the architectural impact of this dissemination of the
American Dream along the roadside against the backdrop of the Alps reinforce the calm
strangeness of this mingling of two worlds.
Yann Gross’s story is about people at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In the wake
of globalization, thanks to contact facilitated by high-tech communication between far-flung
cultures, human communities are inventing new identities and practices that help create a
cheerful patchwork of creolization.
Enjoy the exhibition Horizonville by Yann Gross!
© kirill surov
Santa for Everybody
Every year on a certain day in November several major streets in Toronto are filled with crowds of people. They come to greet Santa Claus and to participate in a very colorful parade. In reality it becomes celebration of coming winter. The crowd is diverse – people of different cultural and religious backgrounds, of all ages.
The series is about anticipation and preparations to the parade.
It is still in progress – each year brings a bit different understanding of this event.
Santa for Everybody from Kirill Surov is now online. Enjoy!
© hector emanuel
Republic of Lakotah
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
Pine Ridge is home to Wounded Knee, where in 1890 three hundred men, women and children were massacred by the US 7th Calvary as they were being transported to the reservation.
Life in Pine Ridge is hard.
It is the poorest Indian reservation in the United States, with an unemployment of about 80% and almost half of its residents live below the poverty line.
Both the infant mortality and alcoholism rates are the highest in the country, while the life expectancy is the lowest (52 for women and 48 for men). Many lack basic services such as running water, sewer, transportation, telephone, and the lack of health care is among the worst in the country.
Enjoy the series Republic of Lakotah by Hector Emanuel!
© christopher bär
Holy Days India!
India is incredible! The diversity, the colours, the merciless reality. And the absurdity!
You see stuff you wouldn’t have dreamt off.
We have seen many photos from India and it’s hard not falling into a cliché, still there isn’t anything in comparison with the stink of the streets in Varanasi, or the booming beat of a party in Delhi, or walking through the afloat streets of Colcatta.
But if you once have seen middle-class tourist in their winter holidays, everything else seems so surreal.
This absurd event is hard to put into words, so just enjoy the photos.
Life writes the most beautiful comedies!
Holy Days India! from Christopher Bär is now online. Enjoy!
© olivier laude
A new still-dancing exhibition is online. Enjoy the portfolio of Olivier Laude!
© masaru goto
Masaru Goto, Lost Loved Ones: Portraits from the Deep South into the Red Zone
Summary:
Masaru Goto has been documenting people in the south of Thailand since early 2004. He has traveled through rural armed Buddhist villages, as well as Muslim villages, which are classified as “red zones” where support for the separatists is strong.
Since 2004, more than 2,700 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured in the deep south of Thailand, where Buddhists live side by side with Muslims.
The number of widows has risen to 1,000, and 1,740 children have become orphans. Violence in the region has affected people in all aspects of life, especially in that people have lost their families and suddenly lost their loved ones.
The series of portraits shows the faces of those who have lost their loved ones in the conflict. The documentary series shows the reality of the situation in the south.
The photographer wishes to show in this documentary that violence has increased to an extent where it affects almost all areas of life for local people, both Muslim and Buddhist.
Background of conflict:
Located close to Malaysia, 80% of the population in three Deep South provinces—Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala—is ethnic Malay Muslim. Long ago, the Sultanate of Pattani (Muslim Kingdom) ruled in this region, but the area was annexed by the Royal Thai Government in the early 20th century. Since the beginning of the annexation, separatist groups have called for independence.
In January 2004, Muslim separatist groups calling for independence from the central Buddhist government have launched the attacks, setting bombs in the middle of the city and killing Buddhist villagers. The Thai government enacted an Emergency Decree and reinforced troops; young Muslim men have been “blacklisted” by authorities and assumed guilty with no reason given. An unknown number of people have “disappeared” but local Muslims never see justice, so local Muslims sympathized with separatist group and joined them.
Now most rural Muslim villages in the south are classified as “red zones” where support for the separatists is strong. At the same time the government has reinforced its troops in the Deep South.
© luigi caponetto
Still-Dancing Street Workshop, February 2009 in Catania, Italy
The workshop will be held from February, 1st, to the 7th, 2009, during the festivity of Sant’Agata in Catania, Sicily, Italy.
last minute: due to a cancellation by one of the participants (speedy
recovery, Mick!) there is one slot available, if you want to sign up…
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