Gardens of Eden by Christian Cravo (August 5, 2009) 
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About Christian Cravo
Born to a Danish mother and a Brazilian father in 1974 Christian Cravo was brought up in an artistic environment in the Brazilian city of Salvador de Bahia. Son of a photographer and grandson of a sculptor, Christian was introduced into the world of the arts from a very early age, though it was only at the age of 13 in Denmark, where he lived through out his adolescence, that he began to experiment with photographical techniques. In 1993 he interrupted his photography research while enlisted in the Danish armed forces. At the age of 22 he then returned to Brazil, where he got seriously involved with his camera. Once back in Brazil, Christian managed to have his work recognized not only nationally but also internationally, primarily because of exhibitions held at the Museum Of Modern Art of Bahia, at the Throckmorton Fine Arts in New York, in Billedhusets Galeri in Copenhagen, SF Camera Works Gallery in San Francisco, at the Ministry of Culture in Brasília, at the Museu de Arte Sacra in Belém, Leica Gallery in São Paulo and in group shows such as in the Witkin gallery, Throckmorton Fine Arts, at the Houston Fotofest and the Palais de Tokyo in Paris. During this time Christian received awards from the Museum Of Modern Art Of Bahia, a Mother Jones Photo Fund for Documentary Photography, a scholarship from the Vitae foundation and a John Simon Guggenheim fellowship for his research on the Brazilian Northeast. Christian has also been nominated for the Paul Huff award, Netherlands 2007 and for the Prix Pictet in 2008, UK/Switzerland, 2008. His first book “Irredentos” was published in 2000 and in 2005 his second book “Roma noire, ville métisse” was published in Paris by Autrement. Christian is represented by the Throckmorton Fine Arts in New York city, Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco, DOMA Gallery in Charlotte, DAN Galeria in São Paulo and Paulo Darzé in Salvador. He is now currently working on two books, “Waters of hope, rivers of tears” and “In the garden of Eden”. Christian lives in New york city with his wife Adriana and their daughter Sophia.
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Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
As a photographer, I seek to understand people through the images that arise in the course of my journey. I make my eye an instrument that tells a story that is, above all, “human.” The aim is to represent humankind through an iconographic structure based on specific themes.
In this regard, I see Haiti as the supreme expression of the human essence.
This is a society with very unique characteristics – intensely spiritual, replete with symbolism, in which people show their lack of prudishness through the purest of elements. And it is purity in human relations when expressing beliefs that awakens my eye.
The philosophical breadth we can descry on the basis of human existence in Haiti is both unsettling and incredible.
Therefore, I believe that “Gardens of Eden” is the title that best reflects the uniqueness of the Haitian people. It is a concept the takes us back to our beginnings, to the moment when human beings were intrinsically linked to nature and discovered themselves through it. Sin did not exist, and naked bodies inhabited each and every space, because they belonged to all of them. Moments of profound pleasure when people meld with nature and its elements.
Animism taken to its greatest power, fulfilling desires, seeking fresh hopes for a people with African origins – roots that have a magical relationship with the divine.
Christian Cravo (1974) lives and works in New York City, USA.
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