Photography, Dignity and Social Change
Photography has a distinct ability to draw people to a cause and start conversations. It empowers the subject of the photo whose voice is amplified, the viewer who is made aware of the issues the photograph addresses, and the photographer who uses his or her work to tell a story. Through the medium of photography, the conversations between these actors can spur public discourse and drive action for social change.
Not surprisingly, non-profits and photographers around the world are collaborating to leverage the “empowerment” nature of photography and create greater awareness of social issues. There are numerous examples, but I would like to highlight one partnership in particular between Toronto for Acumen, a volunteer run chapter of Acumen Fund, and the Nuru Project.
Acumen Fund is a non-profit venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve problems of poverty. The Nuru Project aims to improve the lives of those at the bottom of the pyramid by providing photographers with a means to give back to their subjects through their work.
On November 24th, Toronto for Acumen and the Nuru Project come together to present Dignity in Focus, a one-night photography auction and exhibition to benefit the Acumen Fund. The exhibition, with striking work by photographers including Ami Vitale, Palani Mohan and Per-Anders, brings Acumen Fund’s message to life: poor people seek dignity, not dependence. It challenges traditional top-down perceptions and portrayals of the developing world.
Each photograph was taken in a location where the Fund invests, and each conveys the essence of the Acumen Fund’s work and the people its investments reach. The photographs focus on the resilience, dignity, and humanity of people against the backdrop of their cultures, communities, and daily lives. Noluyanda Mqutwana, one of the 200 underpriviledged children in Cape Town, dances ballet outside her small home; a mother and child walk outside Kibera, the largest slum in Africa located on the outskirts of Nairobi; and the internally displaced girl in the Swat Valley laughs as her pot is filled with water. By placing people at the heart of social issues, these photographs create awareness and challenge viewers to ask questions about these issues.
Dignity in Focus is the Nuru Project’s fourth in series of eight Dignity events around the world. Visit Toronto for Acumen to preview the Dignity in Focus photographs for auction, order tickets, or find more information.
Update (Dec. 15, 2010)
If you missed the event, the video from Dignity In Focus, a Streamline Media production, is embedded below and can also be viewed at www.torontoforacumen.com.
