Due to be hosted at the Bargehouse Gallery, Southbank, London, from 12-21 October, We Feed the World is a global photography initiative which seeks to capture ‘the triumphs and tribulations’ of the smallholder farmers who produce 70% of the world’s food.
Described as a ‘bold and ambitious collaboration, the project has spanned the past three years, attracting award-winning photographers from around the world including Rankin, Martin Parr and Graciela Iturbide, who each gave their time to document the lives of almost 50 farming communities across six continents.
The aim of the exhibition is to ‘challenge the myth that we need industrial agriculture and quick-fix technologies’ in order to feed the world’s expanding population. Cheryl Newman, curator and former photography director at the Telegraph magazine, says: “Photography is the language of our age and it has the ability to shift consciousness and effect change on a scale beyond any other form of communication.
“We Feed the World brings together an unprecedented number of world-renowned photographers, whose unique images will enlighten, inspire and motivate anyone who sees them. I hope people will leave the exhibition contemplating where their food comes from and the impact it has on the world around us.”
Photography is the language of our age and it has the ability to shift consciousness and effect change on a scale beyond any other form of communication
Accompanying the exhibition will be a ten-day programme of talks, films and workshops by activists in the food and farming movement, including Patrick Holden and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
Francesca Price, project director, states: “From ice covered Northern Sweden to the depths of the Amazon jungle, these iconic images tell the diverse and inspiring stories of the men, women and families that supply the majority of the world’s food.
“In doing so, the project seeks to replace the image of the poor, struggling farmer with a truer, more resilient picture that both highlights the political complexities yet simple solutions that are available to us in addressing some of the greatest challenges of our time. We want these images to empower people to support their local food system and protect our planet.”
The project has received support from several major ethical brands including Yeo Valley, Divine, Cafédirect and Natracare.
