19 Oct / Humankind: An emotional journey by Yoshio Komatsu and Eiko Komatsu
The chapter titles of this splendiferous collection of images of people around the globe read like a poem: Touch / Feel / Love / Hope / Laugh / Hurt / Fear / Believe / Try / Play / Rest / Need … all the reminders that make us part of humankind on this wide, ever-shrinking earth.
“Eiko and I have been photographing people in their environments all over the world for more than 35 years,” begins the compilation. Humankind is “a collection of photographs … meant to captivate, educate and hopefully motivate you to realize that we really aren’t that different from one another, that we can have increased tolerance and understanding for others.” Indeed, the pages are at their best when presenting those similarities side by side: performing detailed handcraftsmanship in India, Peru, and the Ivory Coast; trekking through snow-capped mountains with precious bundles in Pakistan and Spain; laughing with families in New Caledonia and Mauritania; worshiping together in Bhutan and Russia; making grains in New Guinea and Burkina Faso; hanging laundry in Portual, China, and Mexico …
Perhaps not so subtly, the Komatsus’ images favor some of the most complicated, discordant places in the world: Africa, India and Pakistan, the Middle East, Nepal and China are prominently represented in these gorgeous pages. Regardless of the too-many news reports of strife and enmity, the people’s faces resonate … and are clearly recognizable as fellow humans who laugh and cry, play and pray, who could easily be your brother, your aunt, your close friend’s mother …
How lucky was I to get this as a birthday gift from one of my favorite people in all the world? Such the perfect, gentle reminder of how linked we all are …
Readers: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult
Published: 2006
I commend Yoshio Komatsu and Eiko Komatsu for their interesting concept and their compilation of photographs from around the world. I agree that people around the world are not different from each other. They have the same values, warmth and gentleness which makes them an important part of humankind.
Now go tell that to ALL the governments! Our global village leaders can’t seem to play nicely more often than not … alas, alas.
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
Greetings back from DC …
Sure! Quote away! Link away! The more the merrier!