March 11, 2007
Fazal Sheikh
Working in the formal language of late 19th century and early 20th century photographers such as George Barnard and Paul Strand, New York born MacArthur Fellow Fazal Sheikh tells stories people forgotten by the rest of the world, people often misrepresented by popular media. Several of his books are now available in abbreviated online editions. I recommend starting with "The Victor Weeps". (As a side note the book is available for only $17 on Amazon.)
You can view an interview with Sheikh on the Tate Modern's site, a second interview is available here.
Related: Jake Miller's essay on Sheikh's book and Edward Grazda's Afganistan Diary, Simon Norfolk's Chronotopia, Photostudio portraits of the Taliban
to this site
03/12/07 02:36 PM
Nancy's said...
Sheikh's online book is absolutely wonderful, wonderful !
03/12/07 03:57 PM
Anonymous said...
Fazal Sheikh is an incredible photographer. I can't believe I've never heard of him before. I just bought 3 of his books. Did you know him at Princeton?
03/12/07 11:32 PM
sallie said...
not to beat a dead horse, but viewing these portfolios got me thinking about all the hoo-ha over jeff wall's new exhibition. These images by fazal sheikh seem to be so much more substantial and important, about real things. Walls art seems so slight by comparison. Not that art about art is unimportant but his work for all his elaborate justifications just doesn't seem to have much substance.fazal sheikh's pictures not only reference an artistic tradition, but they force you to reconsider what you think you know and this to me, is what art does best.