Drowning World
Tuesday, May 17, Noon | Kaufman Hall
The UCLA Art & Global Health Center presents award-winning photographer Gideon Mendel, whose latest work addresses the magnitude of global climate change. UCLA World Arts & Cultures/Dance Professor David Gere and Gideon Mendel have collaborated for nearly a decade on Through Positive Eyes, a participatory photography project to fight against HIV stigma. Drowning World is Mendel’s emerging project.
Over the past three years this London-based South African photographer has traveled to flood events in the UK, India, Pakistan, Australia, Thailand, Nigeria, Germany, The Philippines, Brazil, Bangladesh, and the United States. At each location he outfits himself in waders and submerges himself into the floodwaters to connect with victims and document their stories. The result is a startling collection of still and video portraits of flood survivors taken in deep floodwaters, within the remains of their homes, or in submerged landscapes, in the stillness of once lively environments. Keeping their composure, the photographed subjects pause in front of Mendel’s camera, casting an unsettling yet engaging gaze. These images, taken across the world, bear witness to a shared experience that erases geographical and cultural divides. They invite the viewers to reflect on our impact on nature and ultimately, on our own attachment to our homes and personal belongings.
Event Date: Tuesday, May 17, Noon-12:50 p.m.
Venue: Kaufman Hall 208
Price: Free
Kaufman Hall is located in North Campus off of Sunset Boulevard.
Parking is available in lot 4.