Whatiftheworld / gallery

6 June - 23 June 2007

OPENING: 18h30 WEDNESDAY 6 Jun 2007

Whatiftheworld / Artspace at The Old Biscuit Mill 373 Albert Rd. Woodstock

An exhibition of portraits titled ‘Dialogues – Understanding Tuberculosis’, by rising young documentary photographer Damien Schumann. Recently shown as part of the XCAPE 07 International Art Event in Cape Town in March 2007, ‘Dialogues’ deals with people and families affected by the disease TB. The work has been exhibited as part of the 37th annual World TB and Lung Health Conference in Paris, France in November 2006 (sponsored by the Desmond Tutu TB Centre), as well as for World Aids Day in Amsterdam, Holland in December 2006, and at the Dutch Parliament for World TB Day in March 2007 (sponsored by KNCV TB Fund).

The nature of Schumann’s documentary style is not to present a story, but to trap the viewer within the reality of the subject. These are not just pretty pictures; they illustrate the realities of the everyday struggle for life. Schumann uses photography as a core medium and incorporates various other aspects, tangible and intangible, into the work to create installations and artworks that leave no place to hide.

The exhibition images are a study of TB from the patients’ perspective. They are accompanied by stories handwritten by the patients themselves. Together the images and stories dive into a world of poverty and myth that lies on the outskirts of one of the most developed cities on the continent. They aim to understand the beliefs and opinions behind patients failure to complete treatment, and the reasons so many people refuse to test for TB and HIV. They also look at the environment where TB is most evident. The pictures were taken in areas where the highest rates of TB occur – such as Nyanga, Khayalitsha, Kayamandi, Ravensmead and Uitsig. By allowing themselves to be photographed, all of these people have faced a great risk of being stigmatised and have had to overcome their personal fears regarding what is happening to them. All of the patients in these pictures are either on treatment or have been cured since these pictures were taken. They are living examples that TB can be cured.