Inside Out Centre for the Arts on LinkedIn: #eiger2024 #photography (2024)

EIGER TOP 20 - The Uncanny by Léonard Pongo Pongo (Belgium | Republic of Congo)⁠⁠The Uncanny by Belgian-Congolese photographer Léonard Pongo is a visual interpretation of his experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ⁠⁠Following friends and family in the country, Pongo became immersed in their vision. He let them decide what he should witness as he attempted to understand the place, reconnect with his heritage and reconcile his preconceptions with realities. ⁠⁠In 2011, Pongo travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to photograph the country’s general election and its impact on society. He soon became aware of his inability to define which stories mattered, and to faithfully report on the overwhelming experience he went through. As his awareness of this increased, he came to terms with the limits of photography to show ‘the truth’ as well as his own limitations in accessing and analysing the environment, bias, and stereotypes. The project evolved into the photographs which form his first book The Uncanny.⁠⁠The black and white photographs in the book show an often dream-like and abstract journey through landscapes, domestic interiors, streets, dance halls and churches. Disorientating perspectives and use of long exposures give the impression of movement and figures disappearing out of the frame. A lack of formal narrative lends a feeling of instability and occasional threat. Portraits of both strangers and friends show those aware and accepting of Pongo’s presence—some disregarding the camera and others requesting its presence. ⁠⁠Devoid of colour, night and day are hard to differentiate in this vision in which the religious, spiritual and the secular are intertwined with the uncanny. Rather than documenting a country, Pongo has attempted to document his personal experience of the country, translating the vibrant, overwhelming and ungraspable into pictures.⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography

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EIGER TOP 20 - Citizen by Jonathan Wood (South Africa) ⁠⁠"Citizen: A Lived Experience of Johannesburg is a poignant reflection of the dynamic cityscape of Johannesburg through my eyes as a resident." - Wood⁠⁠The project delves deep into the urban tapestry of Johannesburg city, capturing the essence of its diverse neighbourhoods, from the bustling CBD to the suburbs. Through a lens of honesty and authenticity, it endeavours to capture a moment in time, a personal narrative intricately woven into the fabric of the city's history.⁠⁠This intimate portrayal of Johannesburg serves as a time capsule, preserving the nuances of the present and recent past for future generations to explore and understand. By offering a unique perspective on the city's evolution, Citizen not only documents the physical landscape but also captures the emotions, stories, and memories that define the lived experience of its inhabitants.⁠⁠Through the medium of photography, the book aims to craft a compelling narrative that invites viewers to immerse themselves in the complicated story of Johannesburg."

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EIGER TOP 20 - True Tales Africa by Klaus Mellenthin (Germany)⁠⁠TRUE TALES Africa is a showcase of Klaus Mellenthin's documentary work across the continent, spanning two decades. It is the photography of a passionate storyteller complemented with thought-provoking essays by renowned writers that capture the heart and soul of Africa.⁠⁠He observes passersby and tribal leaders and is confronted with suffering and happiness. He loses himself in alleys and back rooms, listens to intimate conversations and whispered prayers.⁠⁠As a wanderer between worlds, a collector of moments and a driven man, Mellenthin immerses himself, albeit temporarily, into this often misunderstood, diverse and vibrant continent. In the process, he unearths fascinating narratives, a sequence of anecdotes.⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography

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EIGER TOP 20 - Timanga by Carlos Manhique (Mozambique)⁠⁠"Africa is Dead. It is necessary for her to remain dead so that others can live, choosing to be born an African is to live between death and life. I live in a society corrupted by peace and freedom, the sounds of chemical weapons,⁠whispering in the ears of those who write from silence. The voice doesn't reach far, the cry for help is a reason for likes on social media. Africa is rich and beautiful but it is dead, the question is, will it be like Christ who rose on the third day?"⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography

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EIGER TOP 20 - Quatre yeux by Adrien Bitibaly (Burkina Faso)⁠⁠In Burkina Faso, tragic events (sudden death, illness, accident, etc.) or out of the ordinary events are necessarily interpreted as being the result of malicious intervention. We therefore need a culprit to be named. Having grown up in this culture, Adrien Bitibaly was able to observe from an early age the importance of traditional religions in Burkinabè society. ⁠⁠Among the manifestations of these beliefs, accusations of witchcraft have always challenged him. As a child, the objects or places he was told were possessed or haunted seemed completely ordinary to him and he never understood what could generate these denunciations.⁠⁠Witchcraft remains elusive, supernatural, unverifiable. However, the consequences of an accusation are very real: the inequalities and discrimination suffered by the accused (because these accusations affect the vast majority of women) are legion. ⁠⁠As an adult, with Four Eyes, Adrien Bitibaly traveled the country to meet traditional priests, individuals endowed with the “capacity” to determine if a person possesses evil powers and should thus be designated as a witch. ⁠⁠What is their role in this social practice? Possessors of power whose conditions of exercise remain unknown to the majority, can they nevertheless make a mistake? His photographic work seeks to show what can trigger accusations of witchcraft. For him, it is a question of exploring the genesis of a popular belief, and not of seeking to prove a truth. This book received the support of Cnap and the PACA Region.⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography

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EIGER TOP 20 - L'histoire de demain by Adama Sylla (Senegal)⁠⁠Documentation is the memory of a country,because today’s daily life is tomorrow’s history - Adama Sylla.⁠⁠Adama Sylla (b. 1934), a curator, collector, archivist, and painter, is most notably a tireless photographer who has dedicated the past four decades to documenting and archiving the life of his native Senegal, particularly its former capital, Saint-Louis.⁠⁠In the footsteps of the pioneers of African photography like fellow Saint-Louisians Meïssa Gaye (1892-1982) and Mama Casset (1908-1992), Sylla’s work – far from the exoticizing images taken by Western reporters or scientific photographers – highlights the modernity of the primarily urban forms of Senegal. ⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography⁠⁠⁠⁠

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EIGER TOP 20 - Unfinished War: A Journey Through Civil War in Yemen by Asmaa Waguih Eltobi (Egypt)⁠⁠Over the last decade Yemen has been the scene of warfare involving the employment of advanced air delivered weapons of Western origin by Saudi Arabia, of insurgent warfare conducted by al-Qaeda, of improvised ‘technicals’, and of ballistic missiles. As result of this ongoing conflict, Yemen has become the scene of what the United Nations have described as one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times and in which tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced. ⁠⁠Asmaa Waguih Eltobi visited Yemen on numerous occasions since 2016, reporting on the war there between its internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the Houthi militia, a religious and political movement alleged to be receiving military support from Iran.⁠⁠The impact of the war has continued to be felt by the people of Yemen. Making matters worse is the ongoing conflict in Gaza which began on 7 October 2023 and which at the time of writing continues to reverberate across the region of the Middle East and in Yemen in particular.⁠⁠As the United States and Britain launched airstrikes against the Houthis for disrupting global shipping to protest the bombardment of Gaza, millions of Yemenis who have already lost everything in the last decade are now farther away from their elusive dream of peace and stability. ⁠⁠This book is a combination of the photos Eltobi took through different trips to Yemen. The photos show everyday reality in a nation experiencing one of the world’s longest running wars. The conflict may not be visible in every frame but it infuses all the images.⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photographer

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EIGER TOP 20 - Carnet de voyage - Aïssata Lam (Mauritania)⁠⁠“Carnet de voyage” is Aïssata’s first book. An ode to her native country, its cultural and ethnic diversity. Beyond showcasing Mauritania through the lens of a third culture kid, who grew up far from home, it was also a getaway from COVID-19 isolation. ⁠⁠The book invites to a journey throughout all the 13 regions of the county, with an intimate recounting of people, their homes, their hospitality, childhood memories, but also history. This photo book is an “invitation to voyage” with a pinch of vulnerability and finding comfort in the midst of the chaos created by the pandemic.⁠⁠ In August 2020, when she decided to pack her backpack and road-trip around the most remote places of the country, with a camera and notebook, a book was not the end goal. The publication of it was a result of getting out of her comfort zone and showing the many faces of Mauritania that are the backbone of the society and the economy, seldomly portrayed. Authentic and without filters, “carnet de voyage” is a work of heart and passion through faces, places and emotions captured. ⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography

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EIGER TOP 20 - Vodun Days by Achraf Aboukakar (Benin)⁠⁠“Vodun Days” is a visual immersion in the mystical universe of vodun. Through the expert lenses of photographer named Achraf Aboubakar, this captivating work offers a gripping look at the rituals, deities, and ancestral traditions of this centuries-old spiritual practice.⁠⁠Each page of "Vodun Days" reveals the richness and splendor of vodun ceremonies, capturing the thrilling energy of the dances, the beauty of the ritual costumes and the deep devotion of the worshipers. Achraf transports us to the heart of Ouidah, a town in Benin, where vodun is deeply rooted in daily life and community festivities.⁠⁠By highlighting some of the most revered deities in the Vodun pantheon, such as Zangbeto, Egoungoun and Vodoun Kokou, “Vodun Days” offers a fascinating insight into African spirituality. Each image is accompanied by informative captions that illuminate the meaning and importance of these deities in Vodun tradition.⁠⁠Whether you are passionate about photography, anthropology or simply curious to discover new cultures, "Vodun Days" is an invitation to explore a world of mystery, beauty and spirituality. Immerse yourself in this breathtaking visual journey and let yourself be transported by the magic of vodun.⁠⁠#eiger2024 #photography⁠

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