For something slightly serious, drop by photographer and film-maker Ryan Lobo’s recent photo exhibition — War and Forgiveness — and also watch the screening of his film The Redemption of General Butt Naked. Lobo talks to DNA about his latest creations.
Can you tell us bout your photo series, War and Forgiveness?
The exhibition is about the intangible, something I’ve felt and expressed through the medium of photography and writing in the catalogue, in three conflict zones. It is as much about my own perceptions and their evolution regarding these experiences as it is about the subjects I photographed.
Could you share some interesting anecdotes through your journey to these places?
In Liberia, I saw a woman whose brother had been murdered ostensibly by the General. When I recall, I realised that I had witnessed something larger than the context, both cultural and historical. It seemed strange to me, that in my experiences, that people who have suffered terribly find it easier to forgive.
Q: How did you go about shooting The Redemption of General Butt Naked?
Eric Strauss, my long time film-making partner, noticed a blurb about the General in the book, The World’s Most Dangerous Places, 10 years ago. We had discussed the possibility of making an independent documentary on the man at that time. Many years later in 2005, Eric tracked him down through some pastors in West Africa and went down to meet him. Later a team of us, all independent film-makers, went to Liberia to shoot a film about him and that process continued for about 5 years. The film, which I am a co-producer of, won for best cinematography at this year’s Sundance film festival in the US after being short-listed for best documentary feature film.
At Tasveer, Sua House, 26/1, Kasturba Cross Road
When 11am to 7pm, on till March 11 (Sundays closed)
Call 40535212
c_sharanya@dnaindia.net
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