Opening of the photo exhibition by Shaban Masengesho
The pictures of Shaban Masengesho show different lifestyles, culture and infrastructure and give insights on living environments of Rwandan and German people, grouping the pictures in a way that allows fighting stereotypical images. They capture impressions from the capital of Kigali and rural regions in Rwanda and urban life in Germany. The pictures are complemented by short stories based both on inter-views with the people portrayed and information on the setting of the photographs taken between 2014 and 2017.
Shaban Masengesho started working as a freelancer photographer in Kigali in 2014. During his volunteering service in Mainz (Germany) from 2013 to 2014, he was often confronted by stereotypical images of Africa as the „lost continent“ that suffers from hunger crises, poverty, civil wars and exploitation. Back in Rwanda, he realized that an idealized image of Europe was often prevailing even though he had perceived German realities as very nuanced. The photographer states „Through the photo exhibition I want to offer people who do not have the possibility to travel to create their own im-age by showing them my view“. „For me, photography is another world with only one language.“
The Exhibition will be on display at Goehte Institut Kigali until October 31.
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