Foto-expositie over armoedebestrijding (en) - Hoofdinhoud

This is the title of Tamas Schield’s photo exhibition that opened on June 16, 2011 at the European Commission of Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion in Brussels. Looking at the pictures one may wonder what the correlation is between poverty and the 24 portraits of Indian and Roma characters. What can a snapshot possibly reveal about poverty?

We are not talking about photographs that are heavily loaded with social messages. We are not to awaken our social sensitivity, or to advertise a social- political initiative. The main element here is the portrait, the human face whose esthetic dimensions override all schematic and typical expectations. The portraits are beautiful, as the models in them want to be charming. Beauty and charm can be intended, external and philosophical, internal. The photographer is to discover beauty -“the truth is beautiful”-, while he evokes deeper ideas. What are his methods? Walls, fences, interiors, the background of the portraits tell us a lot. Among the fixtures are brick walls, painted in red, or left bare, undone beds, leftovers, a stuffed teddy bear, a purse, hanging on the wall... Mirror is a tricky tool, too. Sometimes it shows us things we expect the least. ”Manifestations of human destiny” - claims the artist, lecturing us on the nature of photography. According to his artistic beliefs - following the footsteps of Susan Sontag- photography is the gateway to other people’s mortality, vulnerability, and dynamics. It sanctifies and captures the moment. Every photograph is a piece of evidence that time goes by and disappears.

Poverty is undoubtedly present in these pictures. It does not matter where we witness it, in the gypsy ghetto in Western-Hungary, or in India, Karnataka. Can we tell where each of the photographs was taken? Maybe yes, maybe not. The pictures are still not mainly about poverty. They are mostly about how the photographer invites us to see it and experience it. There are times when the essence of the picture is in a daring stare and in other moments it is in a wrinkled smile or in an intimate gesture. The portraits are not about poverty, but about the dignity people bear it and cope with it.

Tamas Schild always picks an apt motto for his exhibitions. This time he chose a quote from Sandor Weores: ”Do not focus on what they do not have, but see what they do, as even people in grave poverty have a certain richness in their soul which you do not possess.” That richness is exactly that the artist aims to highlight. According to Laszlo Andor i, official of employment, social integration and affairs, the unique approach and contribution of art is needed as it is able to fully capture the highly complex socio-political reality of poverty.

In his opening speech, Andor introduced the program of decreasing poverty as the Hungarian Presidency’s top priority. 2010 was the European Year of fighting against poverty and the year was dedicated to draw the attention of all social classes to fight against widespread financial hardship. Laszlo Andor emphasized the great need for Roma assimilation. The equally difficult positions of the Indian and the Hungarian Roma society exemplify that beyond statistics are people. India is also a good example that even in a dynamically progressing, compatible country, there is the other side of the spectrum that is marked by innumeracy, illiteracy, sickness, and the danger of epidemics. Poverty is much more prevalent in Europe than we would first think. Social cohesion is jeopardized by the great difficulties of society. The member states need to unite in their ambition to find a working solution to current social affairs and financial challenges.