RYAN LIBREExhibition Content
In Burma everybody is oppressed. The Kachins, being ethnic and religious minorities, have it even harder.
The Kachin soldiers keep strong and ready to give their political leaders higher ground to negotiate from. The Kachin political leaders stand firm and talk with the Burmese military government as equals to give the people courage and pride. The Kachin people work together and work hard to give each other strength and support. The Kachin reverends speak with sincerity and clarity to give a voice to the voiceless and faith to the masses. The Kachin students study with determination and urgency to give their nation a peaceful and prosperous future. These are the portraits I share with you. Portraits of strength and faith, portraits of sincerity and determination, portraits of hard work and hope from one of the darkest countries on the planet.
Comments:
This exhibition is a precious documentary of life in Kachin state in the north of Burma.
Information about minority ethnic issues in Burma is limited in Japan. A civil war between the Kachin Independence Army and the government has dragged on for a long time. In 1994, a ceasefire had been concluded, however, the conflict has not been resolved that easily, there is still the risk of civil war. For three months the photographer has patiently interviewed and recorded the proud people who live there. He combined the images and information into an exhibition which balances both photographs and words. His dynamism and this intriguing way of delivering the messages to us have been effectively achieved through this presentation, and is highly regarded.
These days, Japan is being called to question its understanding of Kachin as a part of Asia. From that point of view, these works are a significant display that provides us valuable information we cannot obtain via mass media. The photographer’s energies and methods of documenting and sharing the stories of the Kachin are awarded.
RYAN LIBRE
Raised in Northern California, joined the US Army and went AWOL to get a Degree in Peace Studies.
Ryan has spent 5 years in Japan and 5 years in SE Asia.
Ryan spends a lot of time getting to know his subjects and very little time post-processing, he works on mostly long term self assigned projects.
Ryan has exhibited at the Fuji Film Salon (Sapporo), The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan and the Nikon Salons.
He received a grant from the Pulitzer Center to document the struggle of the Kachin.
When not working on projects or teaching photography, he enjoys working on his adobe house in northern Thailand.
