Later, he came back as a Care Nepal staff and worked in different parts of Nepal from 1991 to 1995. Subsequent to that, he was posted in Vietnam for four years and then Bangladesh for five years—where he first discovered his passion for photography. Now in Nepal since May 2013, Hansen is holding an exhibition of a collection of black and white images—Images of Nepal—at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal from September 9.
Republica's Prashanti Poudyal caught up with Hansen to talk about his upcoming exhibition, his passion for photography, and how he sees Nepal through his lens.
Tell us a little about 'Images of Nepal.'
The exhibition will feature about 40 black and white photos portraying Nepal and its people. I had been collecting them for over two years since my posting here. The photos capture the essence of Nepal, both before and after the April 25 earthquake.
Actually, we had planned the exhibition to open in April this year, but we had to postpone it thanks to the earthquake. I utilized the time to go outside and observe the situation through my lens. I was quite impressed by how, in the time of crisis, everyone was helping each other. I spent about two months photographing inside and outside the valley, and I've chosen some of these photos to be showcased in the exhibition.
Why black and white photos?
I find black and white pictures purer in terms of expression. When seeing a photo in grayscale, our brain focuses on discerning the meaning behind the picture because it doesn't get distracted by the colors. In color photographs, especially when we're taking portraits, it's easy to shift our focus from the expression of the subject to the colorful clothes and accessories they're wearing. But then, choosing the medium also depends on the objective behind taking the photos.
How did you get into photography? I started photographing in Bangladesh when I realized that the picture of Bangladeshi society painted by its politicians and bureaucrats did not quite correspond to its reality. I wanted to meet with people and connect with their lives and get the real picture of Bangladesh. For that, I went to slums, brothels, ship braking yards and other places in search of reality and took photos. Soon, photography became a means of learning and I was fascinated by it. I enjoy meeting people and capturing their stories in my photos. I feel photographs are effective means to introduce people the issues they aren't aware of.
Describe a perfect photo.
Technical aspects aside, a perfect photo for me is one that speaks to the viewers and instills in them a sense of curiosity. I aim for my photos to present the reality as it is, and with luck, remain in the viewers' memory for a long time.
Through your lens, do you see potential in Nepal?
When I meet with Nepalis and photograph them, I can see that they have a lot of potential. But at the same time, I've also seen the bitter truth of unequal opportunity. Too busy to sustain their livelihoods, many Nepalis don't even have the time and opportunity to explore their potentials. However, I also see hope through my lens. I've seen Nepalis change the course of their future with their unique ability to deal with the direst of circumstances.
What are your future plans?
Finding time to pursue photography is my biggest challenge at the moment, but I'm not giving up on it. The good thing about photography is that you can always pick up your camera and capture images as you please. I will continue taking photos on various themes.
'Images of Nepal' will open at Siddhartha Art Gallery, Babermahal on September 9, and will conclude on September 22.
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