© Aid by Trade Foundation
Star photographer Albert Watson is just back from Benin in Central Africa. What he brought with him are countless shots of cotton farmers who work together with Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) an of the Aid by Trade Foundation.
Helping people to help themselves through trade is the initiative's aim. In order to put this into practice, an alliance of international textile companies was built up who buy the sustainably produced cotton from the famers for the international market to use and process. The cooperation with the advertising and fashion photographer aims to bring about a better understanding of Africa and the work of CmiA, giving an insight into the world of the small-scale farmers. As well as the cotton harvest, Watson also visited the local markets and a tribal king.
The finished images will be exhibited from 14 September 2012 until 6 January 2013 in the House of Photography in the Deichtorhallen Hamburg. The exhibition “Albert Watson – Memories and Visions feat. Faces of Africa” is flanked by a monograph exhibition of Watson's previously unseen vintage and Polaroid work.
