Magnum Photos has been an instrumental organization that has given us some of the most iconic photographs every other decade. Since its establishment in 1947, the collective has been chronicling the human condition, whether it be human rights, social issues, or world-changing political and social events. This year, Magnum Photos has also shared two thought-provoking exhibits that further help to share the issues that are plaguing our world.
The lead image is by Chris Gampat. Other images in this article are screenshots.
The Evolution of Human Rights
The collective’s first exhibition, Human Rights: The Haves and Have Nots, is currently in Istanbul, Turkey. Emin Özmen, the curator of the showcase, has chosen works of several notable Magnum Photos photographers, such as Guy Le Querrec, Marc Ribound, and Bruno Barbey, amongst others, to portray the evolution of human rights over the decades. The exhibition was created to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly.
The showcase is powerful, as the images portray the struggles for dignity, freedom, and equality around the world. Considering how things have been difficult even today, from the genocide in Gaza to the ones in Congo and Sudan, these images are a great way to begin a discourse on human rights, its effectiveness, and what the term means today. Furthermore, the pictures will further help to enlighten and educate the younger generations to understand our past and shape our future.
Faces of Addiction
In yet another powerful showcase, Magnum Photos now turns its lens on the portrayal of heroin addiction and the challenges to curb its dependency. Taking place in Norwich, Heroin Falls will display the work of two Magnum photographers, Lindokuhle Sobekwa and Graham MacIndoe, and their perspectives on the subject.
Sobekwa’s project, for instance, looks at Thokoza in South Africa and how the youth have turned to a low-grade heroine, Nyaope. Through the series and intimate photographs, Sobekwa portrays the daily reality of their lives and the challenges posed to the users and their communities. However, his work also sheds light on rehabilitation and how these young men find their redemption after years of substance dependency.
MacIndoe, on the other hand, documents his journey of heroine addiction, a battle that he fought for a decade. In his self-portraits, we see the stark reality of his environment, dependency, and the period of his recovery. Since he has won against addiction, MacIndoe is helping others using photography as a means to start a discourse on addiction and destigmatize the conversation.
In contrast, MacIndoe, a New York-based photographer, turns the camera on himself, documenting his own decade-long battle with heroin addiction. “Initially, I had thought I could take pictures of other people taking drugs, but I gradually turned the camera on myself as a way to document dependency from the inside,” he wrote. His self-portraits and images of his environment depict the stark realities of dependency and the process of recovery. Now, in long-term recovery, MacIndoe has dedicated himself to helping others and using his art to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. His images offer an intimate, first-hand perspective on addiction’s impact and the power of self-reflection through photography.
As one can see, Both Magnum Photos exhibitions are a great way to approach a subject from various perspectives. If you are someone who wants to pursue a long-term series or news photography, this would be the best chance to understand the works up close.
Human Rights: The Haves and Have Nots is on display until June 10, while Heroin Falls ends on April 24. For more information, visit Magnum Photos’ website.
