No Dar Papaya, the book, is now available. Hardcover, 128 pages, beautifully off-set printed in Madrid, a unique photographic record of Latin America: www.placerpress.com
"We are surprised by Matt O'Brien's work, by his capacity to illustrate in the landscape of each region he visited, its essential features from where the protagonists come, the humanity that shines in their faces, their kindness, their desire to be observed in a different way.""“from the introduction by Juan Alberto Gaviria
No Dar Papaya is my photographic exploration of Colombia created with a Polaroid camera and film. Though there are many challenges to working with this equipment, I use it because I like the softness and the otherworldly color pallet of Polaroid, it works well with my experience of Colombia, birthplace of Gabriel Garcia Márquez and magical realism. Begun in 2003 and completed in 2013, the work is an alternative, personal take on Colombia-- alternative to the images of war, violence, and misery that dominate imagery from Colombia in the international media. That kind of imagery, known as "pornomiseria" in Colombia, is not what interests me as a photographer, and it doesn't represent my experience of Colombia. I find tremendous beauty, warmth, and humanity in this fascinating country. This work reflects my experience of Colombia and is my endeavor to convey some of the beauty, diversity, and otherworldliness that I find there.
The images come from all over Colombia, from the big cities, to small pueblos to Caribbean islands to the remote forests and deserts. They are part of a larger series that includes a diversity of images, the idea being that together the diversity of images provides a broader picture of Colombia. The series doesn't pretend to give an overview of Colombia, but rather a personal collection of snippets, moments, individuals, and places that together speak of realities and possibilities in Colombia.
The title, No Dar Papaya, is a common expression unique to Colombia which means show no vulnerabilities and present no easy target. It speaks to the reality of life in Colombia, now in its 50th year of war. Tens of thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes. Unspeakable cruelties continue to happen. It has a rigid class structure and the greatest disparity between haves and have-nots in Latin America. There's lots of crime in the cities. Amid this, people live their lives with lots of creativity, joy, humanity and beauty, and that is what interests me.
