We are lucky to have Balboa Park so nearby. It really is a treasure. I just returned from the Museum of Photographic Arts where I saw the amazing work of artist/activist Fazal Sheikh. He is a fortyish man of the world. He has an American mother and and a Kenyan father (sound familiar?) and has travelled the world telling his story mostly through photography, but also books, film and special projects. He believes passionately in improving the lot of poor people throughout the world, and women in particular. This is difficult to do, as so many religious and cultural difference must be respected. He is a master at getting his subjects to trust and respect their way of life. The exhibit that we saw was called "Beloved Daughter". He told through his pictures and quotes from the women themselves, the plight of thousands of women every year in India.
Sheikh creates portraits of different communitites around the world, addressing their beliefs and traditions, also their economic and political problems. Next to each photograph he has a short story of the person, as told in her own words. As if the photos weren't haunting enough, the stories are some you will not soon forget. I believed (until today) that the plight of women in India was much improved. What I saw today showed me that is not the case. The cases of brides being burned to death, female fetuses being drowned at birth, women being sold into prostitution at the age of 12 to help support the family, and slave markets just outside of Delhi, where women are sold into a lifetime of slavery. It is a lot to absorb.
Sheikh has also visitied Sudan, Mozambique and Somalia, where he has done similiar investigations into the life of the people that are equally compelling. He is a human rights activist, with many projects around the world with the goal of help to improve the human condition. I urge anyone who hasn't had a chance to see this exhibit to stop by before it leaves on January 31. Also, check out Fazal Sheikh's website http://www.fazalsheikh.org/, where you can view his photographs and check out his other projects. He is doing amazing work to raise our consciousness. Hopefully, his work will make an impact, and make life better for some. It certainly did wake me up.
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