Wednesday, December 12, 2012

In Siberia.

'...accelerated urbanisation over the past century has distanced humanity from the very animal and plant sources of life itself. We are living in disharmony with the elements that comprise the universe, as if we too were not similarly formed, as if we were purely rational beings. We are disregarding the spiritual and instinctive qualities that until now have ensured our survival. We assume grave risks when we distance ourselves from our natural roots, roots which in the past always made us feel part of the whole.' Sebastião Salgado 
These photos from Sebastião Salgado's Genesis project (a huge project spanning 6 years) took my breath away when I was flicking through last weekend's Guardian magazine. Salgado spent 40 days living with the Netets, nomadic reindeer herders of northern Siberia. The pictures he took are epic and yet intimate, painterly and yet distinctly documentary photography.  It's the first time in a long time that I've felt inspired by contemporary photography and the first time in as long as I can remember that I've eagerly awaited a gallery exhibition. Which I'll be able to go to, because I live in London now. 


Photographs: Photograph: Sebastião Salgado/Amazonas/nbpictures, via The Guardian. 

8 comments:

  1. So true. Thanks for sharing this.

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  2. Congratulations on the move - gosh, I'm so jealous. Wish I'd never left London, particularly when I see images from an exhibition like this. Hope all went well.

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  3. always been a favourite of mine... had massive camera envy when I was uni and completed an assignment on him (and his Leica) ..... heart wrenching that I cannot simply magic my way to this exhibition... deep green fading to milder more manageable grass green now... ♥♥♥

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  4. I'm just gonna say it...you lucky bastard.

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  5. Beautiful images and words, thanks for sharing. As an aside, I really miss the British newspapers. Especially the Guardian, and when my parents come to visit in a couple of weeks, my mother knows (without me even having to mention it) that she must bring as many of the Sunday Times Style magazines she has saved for me over the past few months that she can cram into her suitcase.

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  6. Those photos are stunning. What a fantastic exhibit it must be.

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  7. I love his pictures. They seem to have this unique silvery luminosity. Amazing. Thanks for sharing and reminding.

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play nice.