Border of Happiness

My Scholarship entry - Momentary flight

Zimbabwe | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 5 photos

My name is Tatenda, I am a cultural observer, and filmmaker. I enjoy capturing moments that collect history, conflict and emotion.

I have been an outsider in all the cultures I have lived in, but simultaneously a participator. I love getting to know the habitats of people, animals and things from the inside out. Zimbabwe has a colonial past, and as a result I have been navigating a complex mix of histories and idiosyncrasies, and creating art out of these types of spaces. I enjoy finding empathetic moments within these cultural mixes.

Peru and the Amazon are prime examples of cultures trying to co-exist in a new world. I want to capture that struggle as a fellow nomad navigating my own boundaries. I want to humanize, NOT fetishize. A lot of the travel photography I have seen comes from a cultural relativity high horse. It could be argued that this is barely veiled prejudice. That is a debate for another time. Right now, I want to use my instincts to capture the stories of the Amazon, with a different perspective, a nuanced and honest view.

I enjoy simplicity, energy, and infusing my work with empathy. I look forward to working with James.