Sebastian Schutyser: Flowers of the moon

  1. Posted on Friday 16 November 2007 - 15:57
    AfricaNews editor
    Sebastian Schutyser
    In the heart of Africa, on top of the Equator, and more than 5.000 metres above sea level, lies an icecapped massif with a mythical resonance: the Mountains of the Moon. As early as 150 AD the Alexandrian Greek Ptolemy referred to the snows of these Lunae Montes as being the sources of the Nile. The mind-tickling idea of such a wondrous thing as eternal snow in equatorial Africa, and the sheer inaccessibility of these mountains, have added an air of mystery to the mists and clouds that constantly veil it.
    boekcover.jpg
    The first well-documented sighting of this last great mountain discovery of the world, on the border of present Congo and Uganda, was made by Stanley in 1888. The Rwenzori mountains are an extremely steep and rugged mountain range, well known for their extravagant plants. At higher elevations, certain genera grow unusually large. Most surprising are the giant heathers, senecios and lobelias. Combined with wild and jagged landscapes, this ‘botanical big game’ evokes a primaeval atmosphere.

    But this environment is much more than a botanist's playground. Only a senseless man could ignore the enigmatic beauty of the afroalpine vegetation and the mystical aura of Africa's last inviolate chunck of pure nature. Sebastian Schutyser tells us of an otherworldly Africa in radiant black & white photographs. With his Flowers of the Moon he also calls to attention the advancing deforestation and global warming that threaten planet earth, our only home.

    Sebastian Schutyser is a Belgian artist. His work consists of photographic projects which combine a very thorough documentary approach and a distinct vision on his carefully chosen subjects. His upgrowing in Africa inspired him to develop a visual language that eludes the predominant stereotyped image we have of this continent. The link between our natural environment and the spiritual mark of humankind is an important element in his work. This clearly shows in his Adobe Mosques of Mali with which he has become internationally known. His new work Flowers of the Moon, unveils another hidden treasure of Africa in a very unusual way.


    Book:
    ‘FLOWERS OF THE MOON, Afroalpine vegetation of the Rwenzori Mountains’ 2007, 5 Continents Editions.

    Click here to visit Seastian's website.