While the world tweets about Miley’s twerking, understandably, I’ve seen lots of folks online upset that the antics of a 20-something spoiled starlet are making bigger headlines than little things like wars and children dying. Admittedly, I love my guilty pleasures as much as the next gal, but find myself wondering, how do we draw more attention to real, impactful events happening around the world? Leave it to an artist to figure it out. Irish photographer Richard Mosse brings the civil war in the DR Congo to life using bright pink tones to colorfully engage the viewer into the country’s story.
Men of Good Fortune, North Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2011
Growing Up in Public, North Kivu, Eastern Congo 2011
Mosse’s use of an ifrared Aerochrome dia-film gives his photographs their striking hot pink hue. That sugary, Victoria’s Secret hue belies the tragic story behind these photos, one of decades long conflict, government corruption, and innocence lost.
Even Better Than the Real Thing, North Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2011
Ruby Tuesday, North Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2011
The photographer takes documentary war photography and imbues it with a strange sense of playfulness. The Pop Art pinks are surely what will draw our attention, but it is the faces there and the stories behind them that will keep it.
Sticky Fingers, North Kivu, Eastern Congo 2011
La Vie En Rose, North Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2010
If you’d like to see more of Richard Mosse‘s work, please visit his website.
All images via the artist’s website.
Alexandra Suarez
August 27, 2013 at 12:39 PMBeautiful images! I love to see art with content. Thank you for this:)
Lesley
August 27, 2013 at 12:59 PMGlad you enjoyed and appreciated Mosse’s work, Alexandra! His use of an artistic vision to bring to light what’s happening in that part of the world is truly inspiring.
CJ
August 28, 2013 at 10:37 PMThis is beautiful, and innovative too. People do need to find new ways to bring issues like this into the spotlight, and this is something that does that, without being too blunt about it. For me, it’s things like this that encourage me to find out more about certain issues, so I think this is absolutely amazing.
Lesley
August 29, 2013 at 9:00 AMI completely agree, CJ! These photos prompted me to read more about the history of the DR Congo. Art brings these kind of issues to life for me. Glad you feel that way, too.