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| Let's Celebrate 365 - Exploring the DNA of the World's Cultures uses global festivals and ceremonies, rituals and celebrations, whether secular, spiritual, political or traditionally religious (of which at least one happens every day of the year - hence the title) to explore the pulse of the world's diversity. The archive glories in the spectacle, the scale, the colour, the fervour and the uniting power of belief which underlies every image, as much as revelling in and celebrating our fascinating differences as a species. Let's Celebrate 365 - an archive of more than 10,000 images covering 35 years of travel through 65 countries across 5 continents - chronicles the most extraordinary, the most beautiful, often most vulnerable aspects of humanity. It allows us to glimpse the diverse, often colourful and sometimes obscure festivals, ceremonies and rituals that have remained unchanged for centuries - and in some cases thousands of years. Many of the ceremonies and rituals have been rarely witnessed by Westerners. Some of these immortalise traditions, people, even geographical areas which may not survive for much longer. For cultural change throughout the world is so rapid that it's probable that some of the celebrations and rituals that I have had the very great privilege of witnessing will never be repeated due to ever-developing new global technology - Mobile phones, Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media - that are already impacting on indigenous peoples. As is the rapidly changing political landscape, as seen across the world in the past months. As such Let's Celebrate 365 is an incredibly valuable legacy and resource from an anthropological perspective, as much as a photographic and artistic one; and my lifelong work bringing such issues to Western attention has been recognised with two UNESCO Photography Awards.
Already exhibited at:
Let's Celebrate 365 image files transmitted nationally outdoors on BBC/LOCOG BIG SCREENS are available for other BIG SCREENS throughout the World. |
