Jimmy Nelson : Humanity
Jimmy with the Huli Wigmen Courtesy of © Jimmy Nelson
Jimmy Nelson, Humanity is centered around the personal and artistic journey of the renowned photographer throughout the world in countries like Tibet, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Mongolia, Chad, China, and French Polynesia. His journey serves as the main theme of a deeper reflection on one’s identity as part of the universal human family. His travels are akin to field expeditions, rich with preparations and contingencies; they can last for weeks, if not months. For Nelson, traveling is an integral part of his artistic process, embodying a resolute quest for what it means to be human, deeply rooted in our shared origins from a common source in the African continent. Along his journey, he has reconnected with his innermost self and realized that humanity is one. Jimmy Nelson, Humanity is published by Skira.
Longhorn Miao Suo Jia, Liupanshui, Guizhou, China | 2016 page 126 © Jimmy Nelson
In this new book, the photographer passionately shares his ongoing pursuit of an art form that embraces what he experiences in the field, when he finds harmony with people, nature, and light. A sense of balance that creates a symphony of experiences that analog photography, in the form of large 10 x 8 negatives, comes close to expressing, allowing him to visually channel and crystallize all the emotions in a single moment. Through his spectacular shots, Jimmy Nelson’s journey becomes our journey, and the Indigenous peoples he photographs become the protagonists of a story of “absolute beauty” that allows us to perceive the entirety of humanity. Nelson’s goal is to celebrate the incredible culture.
Jimmy Nelson (1967) was born in England (Sevenoaks, 1967) but has traveled the world from an early age due to his father’s work as a geologist, spending extended periods in remote parts of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. As an artist, he is continually seeking to meet and connect with Indigenous cultures to celebrate their beauty and authenticity. Since his first internationally acclaimed photographs of Tibet almost 30 years ago, Jimmy Nelson has traveled to the most hidden corners of the planet. In 2013, he published his inaugural photography volume, “Before They Pass Away,” followed by “Homage to Humanity” in 2018. He has visited numerous different Indigenous communities worldwide and has developed reciprocity projects in collaboration with some of them through the foundation that bears his name. His complete body of work features in a traveling immersive exhibition which combines photography, video, audio, and animation called “The Last Sentinels: Heroes from Near and Far,” produced by Culturespace.
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