From 7 October untill 10 December 2005 Olhares dell Morro photograpy exhibition by Vincent Rosenblatt will be on show in Espace Jean Legendre in Compiègne. France.
The Prince Claus Fund supports the continuation of a project set up in October 2002 in a favela "Santa Marta" in Rio de Janeiro: a photography laboratory for workshops. This is a disadvantaged area with about 12,000 inhabitants and many social problems and a negative image in the local and international press. Photographer Vincent Rosenblatt set up a centre which runs continuous workshops teaching young people from the favela how to do photography. He provides them with materials to make their own personal view/photos of the favela, focusing on the positive elements. The project focuses on the concept of photography between "creative photography" and "visual documentary".
The aims of the project are to:
Among a population that struggles on the edge of society, with sometimes no personal documents, " it made sense to promote a collective project through an affirmative visual process, rather than the individual photographic practice of highlighting the sensitive aspects of shantytown life", according to Rosenblatt.
A group of 20 to 30 people, including children, adolescents, and young adults regularly participate in the workshop. However, the organizers leave the possibility open to anyone who would like to joins the course unexpected. The essence of the workshops is that each participant develops his/her own expression and themes of investigations. Afterwards, with newly acquires technical skills, one is able to leave the Morro (name of the favela, or rather city) and take visual ownership of the entire city, without exclusions.
In the middle of a socially marginalized population, where many people do not even posses an identification card or legal record, many of them dream to be part of a film as if it is a proof that they truly exist in society. So the appropriation of photographic media by the youth of the favela has a strongly symbolic value in the process of constructing autonomous visions.
Olhares do Morro uses the former health centre of the community, an ample location to provide for all the practical and sanitary needs of the project, which receives enthusiastic support of the inhabitants. The building has great symbolic value because it was built in a common effort by the inhabitants themselves.
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