“I was lucky enough, along with fellow DPS members and a packed house of other photographers and enthusiasts for photography, to be at the opening of the Side Gallery’s exhibition, ‘Kanaval’ by photographer Leah Gordon, who gave an electrifying talk about her work.
The exhibition of compelling prints (large, square format black and white) is subtitled ‘Vodou, Politics and Revolution on the streets of Haiti’. There are more images projected in a separate area with a sound track of oral history of the subjects’ own stories.
It took Leah 16 years to complete culminating in the release of her book of the same title and the Side Gallery exhibition. To say that she analysed and researched the background to all the characters, and the storytelling they each portray, would be an understatement. Listening to Leah’s knowledge and insight of Haitian culture and history was both fascinating and informative. Her determination to seek out and discover the main protagonists behind the arenas of history they each play in Jacmel’s Karnaval have definitely shone through to the photos on display, and all done on a 50 year old twin lens Rolliecord!
Purists might say the digital prints lack the wonderful contrast and purer whites of darkroom prints (clearly seen in the book) but there is no doubting the almost mesmerising impact of the huge prints on display.
Chaloska, Lanceurs de Corde and Madame Lasiren are all featured (disturbing yet exhilarating) and … well I won’t spoil it for you, go and see for yourself!”
Ian Stafford
‘Kanaval: Vodou, Politics and Revolution on the streets of Haiti’ is on at the Side Gallery, Newcastle until 30th July
No comments:
Post a Comment