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| See New York Times Sunday Book Review | ||
Humanitas II: Photographs by Fredric Roberts
is a book about relationships that tells a story of beauty and
grace, work and family, spirituality and devotion, while decoding
the notion of documentation and representation. Echoing photography
of India through time yet created in a contemporary context,
the photographs in this book are concerned with the present and
its link to the past, notions that are fully realized through
the photographic process. Fredric Roberts photographs ordinary
and daily life occurrences, ceremonies, revealing the interiority
of a place. This time he is in India—Mumbai, and throughout
the state of Gujarat: Chhota-Udepur, Ahmedabad, Poshina, Zainabad,
Bhuj, Gondal, and Palitana. In the last six years he has been
to Rajastan, as well as Cambodia, Bhutan, Thailand, Myanmar,
China, and Tibet. In his portraits the subject often looks directly
at him and then to us, the readers, effortlessly constructing
historical significance in the process. These photographs reveal
the rapport Roberts establishes with his subjects as well as
their own sense of elegance and self-possession. |
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For the past five years, ROBERTS has photographed South Asians in some of the areas recently ravaged by the tsunami. While the creation of these photographs preceded this disaster, it is nonetheless a tribute to these people and is coincidentally being released as the world deals with this tragedy. "Humanitas" means the development of human virtue in all its forms, to its fullest extent - a fitting title for this magnificent collection of photography. ROBERTS traveled throughout Asia, from India to Cambodia, Bhutan to Thailand, Myanmar to China, capturing with his lens its people in all their understanding, compassion, fortitude, and honor - a splendid humanity. Fredric Roberts was an investment banker who encountered many wealthy people who seemed spiritually bereft. Several years ago, in a dramatic life change, he left his comfortable world to embrace a life surrounded by individuals who had no concept of wealth in terms of worldly goods, and he found a different richness and dignity. In order to reach many of these people ROBERTS had to journey to places where there were no phones, electricity or plumbing. In many cases he even had to bring his own food as there would not be enough to feed one more mouth. Over the years, through his travels, ROBERTS made a life changing recognition: wealth comes from inside. This is the essence that he has captured and is sharing with the rest of the world if only to remind us. With an introduction by Arthur Ollman, Director of the Museum for the Photographic Art, and afterword by Dennis High, Executive Director/Curator, Center for Photographic Art. Humanitas is destined to be a classic in the vein of Edward Steichan's landmark The Family of Man. HUMANITAS was a finalist for Forward Magazine's 2005 Book Of The Year Award. 55 Four color plates, 88 pp, 10.5"X11.25" |
