Text & Interview by Jean Loo, SIPF Writer

Black and White/White and Black is a photojournalism project by young photographer Diego Ravier. The albinism percentage in Equatorial Africa is very high. As the few white-skinned in a country dominated by black people, albinos often become victims of racism and are subjected to the prejudice that they possess evil powers. They are also more susceptible to skin cancer and poor eyesight. Often, they live in hiding from the unforgiving communities around them. With physical anomalies that make them look different from the majority, most of them end up illiterate and living deprived lives. Diego Ravier’s work can be viewed on rzandphoto.com

Black and White/White and Black was exhibited at the 2902 Gallery as part of Singapore International Photography Festival in Oct 2008. This exhibition is made possible with kind support of Italian Cultural Institute, SIngapore.

Q: How did you learn about the albinos?

A: It started as a commissioned project for the Ordre De Malte, one of the oldest Catholic non-governmental organizations in the world, to document their activities in Africa. One of the groups they help includes the albino community. I started speaking to one of the albinos, and soon I started to find out more about them and the way they live.

Q: How long did you spend on the project?

A: I spent two months in Bobodiulasso in West Africa traveling around small towns and visiting the homes and families of some albinos.

Q: What difficulties did you face and how did you handle them?

A: These people don’t want to be protagonists. They don’t want to be seen, or even have contact with other people. It took a lot of persuasion and hours of talking to gain their trust before I was given permission to shoot. That was the biggest challenged I faced.

Q: What do you think is the significance of this project to society?

A: I want people to think about what is the concept of normality. Does a shift in skin colour and physical differences determine who you are in society? My work must tell a story and have a social objective, before I can even convince my subjects why they should let me photograph them. I think this series has achieved that goal so far.

Q: What are you working on next?

A: My work focuses mostly on people and how they live in their living conditions. I also enjoy learning from the people I photograph or sharing advice I feel will help them. For example in the countryside, many albinos don’t know how to protect themselves or that they should go to their doctors for regular checkups. Many families don’t know that when a young albino plays in the sun, he should be wearing long sleeves and a cap to protect himself from the sun.

I intend to extend the documentary project on albinos into one that examines the concept of skin and societal norms. Up next, I’m heading to Ho Chi Minh City to document a leprosy centre, then I’m planning to head to Europe to investigate the notion of aesthetic skin treatments like UV tanning salons.