Foto Freo Fringe Festival at FTI

9 March 2010

CARLA STEELE Chi Mwana

Organisation

Chi Mwana, a greeting used by the Ugandan children meaning ‘What’s up, Baby’, is a series of photographs documenting a month-long journey I spent in Uganda, East Africa in September 2008 with charity organisation Hope of Africa Inc.

As the official photographer my role was to accompany and document the work of Hope of Africa and of Ugandan Pastor Wilson Kitondekigya in visiting prisons, youth remand homes, orphanages, churches, schools, hospitals, local community projects run by widows, and carrying out village home ministry.

What resulted is a series of captivating, vibrant images that tell the story of hope and joy. The documentary style of photography captures spontaneous moments of play, intimate moments of prayer and the raw beauty of unrestrained instances in time.

As an outsider to not only the cultures and traditions of Uganda, but also the religious beliefs of the team I travelled with, this exhibition is a celebration of the humanity and familiarity of people that crosses barriers such as culture and religion that so often can divide people.

March 16 – April 18
FTI Hall

Launch: 7pm 16 March
Times: M-F 9am – 5pm and Friday 26 March 9am – 8:30pm, Saturday 27 March 2pm – 4:30pm, Sunday 28 March 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Carla Steele earned her Advanced Diploma of Applied Science in Photography from Mount Lawely TAFE in 1999.

Photographing a number of local Perth bands and musicians Carla’s images have been used for promotional artwork, album artwork and for both local and national music magazines. Carla has worked as a stills photographer on music videos in both Perth and London and also as stills photographer on local independent Perth films.

Carla has been published in Esky Magazine (2000), Massive Magazine (August 2000), HQ Magazine (August 2000) and the Fuji Film Site Unseen Australian Photography Book (1999).

Most recently Carla worked as a documentary photographer for local charity organization Hope of Africa Inc. on a month-long tour of Uganda, East Africa in September 2008.