Summary
Before the Rough Guides and the Lonely Planets existed photographers Aliki Sapountzi and Colin Watmough travelled overland to Afghanistan in 1971. Living and travelling in a Renault4 they spent a couple of months photographing street life.
If you missed Aliki’s exhibition @ ECA in January, this is another chance to view some her Afghan collection, enriched by Colin Watmough’s superb vintage Dye Transfer and Bromide prints from 5″x4″ originals.
These photographs of Afghanistan offer a forgotten view of the country and its people at peace, before the Russian invasion, the Taliban and everything else…
Biography - Colin Watmough
Photographer Colin Watmough says:
‘I’ve always been pre-occupied with quality, 36 years ago this meant working with a 5×4 inch plate camera. Whilst not having the speed and manipulation of 35mm, 5×4 was great for landscape and still life. When it came to people, setting up a tripod with a bellows camera and a dark cloth over my head leant a certain formality to the situation which the Afghan people appreciated and responded to.’
Presently Watmough has transferred his preoccupation with quality and images into his passion for wood. He now produces stunning inlaid tables that are shipped internationally.
Biography - Aliki Sapountzi
Born in 1947 in Athens, Greece, Aliki Sapountzi studied photography at École de la Photographie, Geneva (1966-1968). Furthered her studies at Regent Street Polytechnic London - University of Westminster (1967-1969). Since 1972 she has worked as a freelance photographer doing socio-documentary and travel photography as well as portraiture. Since 1995 she has also worked as a freelance film-maker doing socio-documentary, corporate and art centred themes.
Sapountzi’s dedication to a cause or subject enables her to meet day to day and long term challenges with creative and imaginative results. With an eye for detail and extensive experience, Sapountzi achieves high quality in work with striking results.
Aliki Sapountzi currently lives and works in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Please visit the Bongo Club website for more information