Based on his new book “Decolonising the Camera” and his work with Magnum’s historical photo library, curator and cultural historian Mark Sealy uses photography to advocate for the under-represented.
14 August, Fritt Ord and NJP invited to the online seminar “Advocating for the under-represented through photography”. You can watch a recording of the seminar here on NJPs website and on YouTube. What is the relationship of photography to social change, identity politics, ethnicity and human rights? British Mark Sealy joined Jonas Bendiksen and four NJP photographers and discussed photography and the role of photographers in documenting the world around them, taking their point of departure in the political developments of recent months. NJP and Fritt Ord offered a direct streaming of the discussion moderated by Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen. Along with Sealy, Bendiksen and the four NJP photographers Brian Olguin, Sofie Amalie Klougart, Javad Parsa and Nora Savosnick talked about the position of images and photographs in contemporary society and how multi-culturalism is represented in the industry both inside and outside of Norway. Mark Sealy has delved into Magnum’s photo library and found images that elevate those who are under-represented. He has seen the stories in the photographs through new eyes, opening the public space to other voices. In recent months, the focus on Black rights in the US has triggered similar discussions in Europe and Norway. The same issues have been raised in the media and among photographers: Why do westerners make up such an overwhelming majority of photographers? How do we feel about the fact that European and American photographers travel the world to document the reality of others? Editorial boards and photographers are discussing the modest number of multi-culturals in the business, questioning whether multi-cultural communities in Norway are under-reported, and exploring the lack of sources and access to other communities in our own country. The four NJP photographers reflected on their backgrounds and projects during the discussion.




