This series showcases recent work from members of VII Community.
Every few months, we invite photographers from VII Community to present their stories. In this episode, we look at three photographers whose work is featured in “Square Mile” at the PhotoVogue Festival.
VII Community provides ongoing education and support to a network of The VII Foundation’s alumni and Foundry Photojournalism Workshop participants, numbering more than 1200 professionals.
Square Mile is an initiative that presents diverse photographic explorations by members of VII Community. It is a geographic framework, signifying a local focus on spaces where personal, local, and global influences intersect. The projects explore how themes such as climate change, identity, history, legacy, migration, gender, and environment appear within a local perspective.
The upcoming edition of Square Mile, curated especially for the PhotoVogue festival, offers an insight into the work of twelve photographers. They show humanity’s multifaceted connection to the natural world, explore the resilience of communities deeply rooted in their land, and pay respect to ancestral traditions. They tell a story about nature’s guardians, who are protecting the environment and creatures that populate it, and examine the intricate relations between humans and all living.
We are delighted to be joined by American photographer Jordan Gale, who presents “You Will Never Want for Anything.” His project explores the Klamath River, the site of the world’s largest dam removal project, and in doing so, examines the history of exploitation and resource extraction.
Chinky Shukla is an Indian photographer who will discuss “When Buddha Stopped Smiling.”. Her project tells the stories of the desert communities of Pokhran. When India announced its nuclear capability in 1974, the explosions echoed across the world — but in that thunderous moment, local voices were silenced.
Mexican photographer Sara Escobar showcases “Burrolandia: The Donkey Obsession,” a story about a donkey sanctuary led by German Flores. As mechanization has replaced working animals, Mexico’s donkey population has plummeted. At this shelter in Otumba, caregivers work to provide dignified lives for Mexican donkeys while preserving their legacy.
The event will be moderated by VII contributing photographer Anush Babajanyan.
