Jimmy Nelson – Before They Pass Away
There is a pure beauty in their goals and family ties, their belief in gods and nature, and their will to do the right thing in order to be taken care of when their time comes. Whether in Papua New Guinea or in Kazakhstan, in Ethiopia or in Siberia, tribes are the last resorts of natural authenticity.
‘’In 2009, I planned to become a guest of 31 secluded and visually unique tribes. I wanted to witness their time-honoured traditions, join in their rituals and discover how the rest of the world is threatening to change their way of life forever. Most importantly, I wanted to create an ambitious aesthetic photographic document that would stand the test of time. A body of work that would be an irreplaceable ethnographic record of a fast disappearing world.”
Elegant and evocative portraits created with a 4×5 camera. The detail that is attained by using such large negatives would provide an extraordinary view into the emotional and spiritual lives of the last indigenous peoples of the world. At the same time, it would glorify their varying and unique cultural creativity with their painted faces, scarified bodies, jewelry, extravagant hairstyles and ritual language.”
Interview of Jimmy Nelson by Dirk Terpstra
Dirk Terpstra: Your photographs are recognized around the world and I am sure you are very proud of this, but what is the main drive behind the journey you are on now?
Jimmy Nelson: There are two drives and they run quite parallel. One is very personal and in many ways probably quite selfish and that is to be able to carry on leading the lifestyle that I lead – to be free, to keep discovering myself and keep having the possibilities to rediscovering, and recontacting all these people. It’s a very specific way of living and it has become addictive. It is not so much the adventure but it is the constantly pushing my borders to what I know, who I am and where I can go and being able to achieve that lifestyle. The further I push myself, the more I see, the more I create, the more I show, the more I tell, the happier it makes me. The intense contact with the people in these extreme situations is an extremely fulfilling experience.
