Karl Blossfeldt
Edward Burtynsky
Douglas Curran
Andrew Dadson
Miroslav Tichy
Adam Harrison
Geoffrey James
Art Jones
Evan Lee
Fred Herzog
Kevin Schmidt
Stephen Shore
Jeremy Shaw
Spirit photographs

Ndapita ku Malir

Portfolio from The Elephant Has Four Hearts series:
Apatakasi, 1996,  Tidyenawo, 1999, and Ndapita ku Malir, 2002
3 archival inkjet laminated prints, 22 x 22” (image: 22.5 x 18”), ed 6, artist proof
With title page and folder, signed, unframed

Estimate: Edition 1 to 3 at $3,000. Edition 4 to 6 at $3,500
 

This portfolio is an exclusive offering of 3 spectacular colour photographs by North Vancouver photographer Douglas Curran, selected from a body of documentary photographs of the Nyau society of the Chewa peoples of Malawi, Africa. Since 1992, Curran has become deeply involved in Nyau culture and ritual and has been honored with acceptance and initiation into the society. The first photographer to systematically record this culture, these captivating images offer an extraordinary glimpse into the closely guarded knowledge of the Nyau brotherhood, represented on their own terms. These images are rare documents of the history and identity of the endangered Chewa culture. The lushly coloured prints offer insights into the creative energies and mysteries of this secret spirit society.

Douglas Curran’s photographic practice of the past 25 years has focused on documenting aspects of cultural beliefs. He has spent extended periods of time with, amongst others, flying saucer cultists (In Advance of the Landing: Folk Concepts of Outer Space), traveling evangelical tent preachers (Moses Couldn’t Draw a Crowd: Traveling Tent Preachers in Modern America) and mixed-blood aboriginal peoples (The Métis Settlements of Alberta). The publication In Advance of the Landing, which first appeared in 1985 with an introduction by Tom Wolfe, was recently re-released in hardcover.  The Elephant Has Four Hearts:  Nyau Masks and Ritual was exhibited at Presentation House Gallery in 2005, accompanied by a catalogue, and is now on an international tour. Curran’s photographs are in many museum collections including the National Gallery of Canada.