Description:
“Whereas the tourist generally hurries back home at the end of a few weeks or months, the traveler belonging no more to one place than to the next, moves slowly over periods of years, from one part of the earth to another. Indeed, he would have found it difficult to tell, among the many places he had lived, precisely where it was he had felt most at home.”
-Paul Bowles, The Sheltering Sky
These words testifies to a traveller’s conviction for a never ending journey, longing for a suspense in what could come next. A ‘journey’ simply continues from one place and time to another. The traveller constantly learns from his environment, to what is given to him, constantly observes his surrounding. He positioned himself as a learner, holding from certain judgements and assumptions. What the traveller makes of his journeys are small fragments of poetry that he clings to to form a bigger picture of the world. To formulate poetry, the traveller must have cherished novelty even if comfort is the price. True pleasure in shifting places can be found here. The traveller embraces the privilege of experiencing something so new and unfamiliar; in engaging with a total stranger or in munching a delicacy the stranger has just offered him of ingredients he prefers not knowing. In this exhibition, the photographer hopes to show a picture of the world of differences yet interconnectedness, of mystery and excitement, as well as the joys and pleasures of learning first-hand through senses. The exhibition features his travels in Kosovo, Iceland, Morocco, Turkey, France, Germany, the Baltic states, Poland, Portugal, and Holland.
Whereas the tourist comes as a consumer, the traveller internalizes moments and encounters to grow along with them.
Hence, travelling is an art.
-Danishwara Nathaniel
In the past years, photographer Danishwara Nathaniel got inspired by the idea of travel as a medium to understand the world. His first exhibition in France, Les déplacements, featured his journeys to Kosovo, Iceland, Morocco, Turkey, France, Germany, the Baltic states, Poland, Portugal, and Holland. Through this event, viewers who came mostly from Lille and Roubaix, were given the chance to not only observe his works, but also establish interactions with the images. By creating a scenography in which each visitor had to ‘shift’ from one photo to another, this exhibition was meant to evoke the importance of continuously moving from one place and time to another. Printed photographs were displayed both vertically and horizontally, and two projectors were installed next to each other, underlining the contrast of colours in his photographs. Le Camion was once a school before being transformed into an art space. Yet, it has not lost its true function: to provide learning experiences for children. Several school visits were held during this exhibition, allowing children to go beyond memorizing countries – to discover its sceneries and people.
Preview: Thursday, 9 February 2017 at 6 pm
Friday, 10 February – Friday, 24 February 2017
Opened from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 12 pm & 2 pm to 5 pm
Le Camion, 7 rue Archimède, 59100 Roubaix, France
In collaboration with Amanda Ariawan (curator), Thibault Fournaise (curator) and Hanggi Merwanto (graphic designer).
All images courtesy of Yann Hamey. Click to enlarge.
D a n i s h w a r a 