Exhibition: Claudia Andujar, ‘The Yanomami Struggle’
Location: Barbican
Dates: Until 29 Aug 2021
‘This small world in the immensity of the Amazon forest was my place and always will be. I am linked to the Indians, to the land, to the fundamental struggle.’
These are the words of Brazilian photographer Claudia Andujar, whose new exhibition at the Barbican is devoted to her life, work and collaboration with the Yanomami, one of Brazil’s largest indigenous peoples, with whom she has spent her career building relationships. Through more than 200 photographs, an audio-visual installation and a series of drawings by the Yanomami, Andujar explores the dual nature of her five-decade bond with them: one of art and activism. As she uses her camera as a tool for political change, the show demonstrates her journey, grappling with the visual interpretation of a complex and multifaceted culture. This is a time when the Yanomami’s territory and way of life are at risk, both due to ongoing illegal mining and the Covid-19 crisis. This show gives a platform to Andujar’s voice, and all those she has documented and defended.
