My subject matter was
inspired by my own curiousity: how deep did Kenya’s beauty go? In a country
abundant in beauty, I seemed to only catch glimpses of its darker side through
a keyhole. As cynical as that sounds, it just didn’t make sense that a place so
seemingly harmonious could have to deal with poverty, disease and famine. So I approached
the matter empirically. In my piece, I counter-balance Kenya’s allure with some
of the disastrous issues that taint its otherwise serene landscape: corruption,
drought and education. The only issues I had to contend with were in the
production process. The sites and individuals who appear on camera were very reachable
and co-operative, perhaps just as intrigued by me as I was by them. Ignorance
often breeds insecurity, xenophobia and other nasty barriers to cultural and
social immersion. Documentaries wield a great deal of power: to many, they are
far more digestible and accessible than travel. I want to be able to transport
complete strangers to places they otherwise wouldn’t have considered,
introducing them to people worlds apart. I want to convey the stories, hopes,
losses, histories and lifestyles of others. Because with information, a
difference can’t be made.
