Monday, March 31, 2008

The end of the world

It is like a jet plane that after a mission lands and parks on the tarmac.
It is like the jaguar resting in the shadow after the chase, the kill and the meal.
It is like Coney Island switching off the lights after the crowds are gone.
It is like the bed that has the sheets after many nights and many activities changed.
It is like the body tired and dirty from hard work getting a long and refreshing shower.
It is like the train that arrives in the station after a long and tiring journey to release the passengers.
It is like the morning after the wild party that all the cups and plates end up in a garbage bag.
It is like a book that is finished and put aside not to be touched maybe ever.
It is like a city waking up and starting its usual daily routine not revealing what secrets happened during the night.
It is like the lovers who look for their sides of the bed after intense and passionate union.

It is like the end of the world, when a new one will start.

This moment is so special because it ends a period that started in March 2004.
At the time there was involvement with Jacqueline Duncan, an English woman living in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
During a stay in her beautiful apartment in the posh neighbourhood of HigienĂ³polis the news was received that the project “World of little heroes” about two physically challenged 9-year old girls, one in Canada and one in Bangladesh, was selected to be presented at the most important photo festival “Visa pour l’Image” in Perpignan, France.
Although a major development in the career, the issue at stake was what new project to start.
“World of little heroes” was finished and successfully published and exhibited worldwide.
But how to proceed?
In her apartment Jacqueline Duncan had the book “The first twenty years” in which a selection of all the different kinds of photography this busy buzzer man had been doing.
Two pages in that book are devoted to a project performed in Holland in the 80’s about people who believed they were beautiful.
Jacqueline Duncan suggested using that idea and performing it worldwide.
Immediately it was understood that this was a very good suggestion.
And actually within a week the project “The most beautiful people in the world” had started.
Announcements were published in the Sao Paolo press.
Not an easy thing to do as the announcement was rejected by several publications but Jacqueline Duncan knew high placed persons.
A mailbox was rented in a post office and after some time a lot of responses were found.

This is how the project “The most beautiful people in the world” started and after exactly 4 years it has come to an end.
Since March 2004, 10 countries have been visited, over 50 people getting involved as team members, over 170 most beautiful people documented.

Now it is over.
It is finished.

As of now activities for the project “The most beautiful people in the world” are to organize the publication of the book, to manage magazine and newspaper publications and create exhibitions.

Not one fervent and loyal blog reader will think that now a big black hole has opened up on the creative road.
Not at all.
For some time a new project has been developed.
Worldwide as well but a different subject and a different photographic approach.
Of course no details about the new project are revealed.
Let’s celebrate first the completion of the project “The most beautiful people in the world”.
Like it was the end of the world.
But a new one will start.

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To learn more about the book "The first twenty years", click on:
http://www.antiqbook.nl/boox/joo/46461.shtml









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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to you Michel on finishing your project . We know how much this long time work means to you. Good luck with the book!

Ute and Andreas from Mexico

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the completion of your project "the Most Beautiful People" I applaud your dedication to the project and the excellent work you have done. your blogs have been fascinating and enlightening! T