EXHIBITION CATALOG

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BURUNDI IN THE BALANCE

The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

After gaining independence from Belgium in 1962, Burundi has experienced a long series of politically fueled ethnic conflicts, which have impacted development in all areas including infrastructure, education, public health and well-being. The country is now poised to rebuild after more than five years of stability and peace; but its people struggle to find hope in the poverty in which they now find themselves.

Burundi has been classified 169th of 177 poorest countries in the world. The population is between 8 and 9 million, over 95% of whom live on subsistence farming. During the Civil war that lasted from 1994 to 2007, most specialists and general doctors fled the country so that today, the doctor/population ratio is one of the lowest in Africa.

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facing page: Memorial bust of Rwagasore, covered because of its unfavorable likeness to Burundi’s ‘hero of independence’.

above: A young man waits at the port on Lake Tanganyika.

below: Commuters travel Boulevard 28 Novembre, Burundi’s oldest road connecting rural farmlands to capital city Bujumbura.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

In March of 2013, I was sent by the NGO LifeNet International to document their nurse training work in the remote ‘up-country’ provinces of Burundi.

During my brief visit of one week I experienced the 360 degree reality of the place, with it’s lush farmlands of orange soil and deep green; and understood with greater context, the cliche’d images of Africa which informed my understanding until that point.

I realized that the problem of visually translating an experience of reality from one culture to another, is a problem of photography itself. For what makes a ‘good photograph’ among a Western audience, is built largely upon the compositional constructs of Western art history. Add to that the cultural point of view that an audience brings to the image, the frozen, decontextualized fraction of a second which is the photograph, the fashions and demands of the art world, and a number of other variables, and the artifice of photographic communication becomes clear. Still the photograph carries an inherent weight of authenticity.

I believe that human connection is the best way to mitigate the problems of photography.

My approach to making photographs has become liberated. There are new elements of serendipity and instinct in the way I use my camera, which reflect my response to the person before me. In my encounter with other cultures, I seek to enter as a child and connect to common humanity.

I was a stranger passing through Burundi. I hope the glimpses I’ve provided give some insight into the lives of this beautiful people.

Chad Bartlett

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vMother with Newborn Child, Bururi Province

above: Urban youth near the burned down central market in Bujumbura.

below: A boy commutes to school in the rural ‘up-country’ Bururi Province.

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above: Nurses take a quiz as part of the training provided by LifeNet International, an NGO that equips rural health clinics with needed education and pharmaceuticals.

below: A patient has her blood pressure checked at Bigomogomo clinic in Bururi Province.

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Children near the remote Murinda health clinic in Bururi Province.

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above: Burundi’s first college was founded by Catholic Jesuits in the 19th century. Buhonga National University, as it is now known, specializes in engineering and sports.

facing page: Emeliue Iradukunda recovers from malaria at Nyavyamo clinic, while her mother takes care of one year-old daughter Gentillesse (Kindness).

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Morning commute on Boulevard 28 Novembre, the first road in Burundi which connects the rural provinces to capital city, Bujumbura.

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Memorial site where families were burned alive in a petrol filling station during ethnic clashes. A sign on the ajoining structure reads “Never Again!”

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IMAGE INDEX & SALES INFORMATION

i. Young Mother, Chantal Nsengimana, Bigomogomo Clinic, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x18, archival framing, $900.*ii. Hero of Independence, Rwagasore memorial statue, Bujumbura, Burundi; ink jet print back mounted to u/v plexiglass, 50x69, float mounted, $5,000.*iii. Destitute Man, Lake Tanganyika, Bujumbura Port, Burundi; inkjet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x39, archival framing, $1,800.*

iv. Commuters I, Boulevard 28 Novembre, Bujumbura, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x39, archival framing, $1,800.*

v. Mother and Newborn Child, Kibimba Hospital, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 32x45, archival framing $3,500.*

vi. Bujumbura Boys, burned down market area, Bujumbura, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 12x18, archival framing, $700.*

vii. School Boy, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 12x18, archival framing, $700.*

viii. Nurses In Training, Bigomogomo Clinic, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 12x18, archival framing, $700.*

ix Clinic Visit, Bigomogomo Clinic, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 12x18, archival framing, $700.*

x. Rural Encounter, Murinda village, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 32x45, archival framing, $3,500.*

xi. Stunted Growth, Buhonga National University, Bujumbura, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x39, archival framing, $1,800.*

xii. Recovering Woman, Nyavyamo Clinic, Bururi Province, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x18. archival framing, $900.*

xiii. Commuters II, Boulevard 28 Novembre, Bujumbura, Burundi; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 32x45, archival framing, $3,500.*

xiv. Memorial to a Tragedy, petrol station near Kibimba hospital, Bururi Province, Bujumbura; ink jet archival print on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308 paper, 26x39, archival framing, $1,800.*

*20% of the purchase price will be donated to support the work of LifeNet International in Burundi.

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Many thanks to all the staff at LifeNet International, both in

the U.S. and Burundi, especially Hahna Kimbrough for making

this project possible.

Thanks also to the interactive design firm Fathom Creative who has generously donated their beautiful gallery space

for this exhibition.

For the support of the volunteers from The Church of the Advent in Washington DC,

I am tremendously grateful.

Thanks to Oday Sadoon and other friends who have

contributed their talents.

I will not forget the many kindnesses shown to me by

the lovely people of Burundi.Thank you.