Photographer Fabrice Monteiro has teamed up with costume designer Doulsy to create a photo series with a strong message. Capturing haunting pictures of the world's diminishing environmental state, the series, titled "The Prophecy," highlights global concerns from ocean waste to careless consumer culture.
Photographer Fabrice Monteiro has teamed up with costume designer Doulsy to create a photo series with a strong message. Capturing haunting pictures of the world's diminishing environmental state, the series, titled "The Prophecy," highlights global concerns from ocean waste to careless consumer culture.
fabrice monteiro
The series was shot in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, but its narrative is built on ancient Greek mythology and the story of Gaia -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2008%2FWORLD%2Feurope%2F04%2F17%2Flovelock.spirit%2F">known as</a> the "goddess of the Earth." According to Monteiro, Gaia is "exhausted by her incapacity to maintain the natural cycles of the planet," so she sends spiritual forces known as "djinns" to earth as her representatives. These "djinns" take on human form and communicate her message of environmental concern to mankind.
The series was shot in the capital of Senegal, Dakar, but its narrative is built on ancient Greek mythology and the story of Gaia -- known as the "goddess of the Earth." According to Monteiro, Gaia is "exhausted by her incapacity to maintain the natural cycles of the planet," so she sends spiritual forces known as "djinns" to earth as her representatives. These "djinns" take on human form and communicate her message of environmental concern to mankind.
fabrice monteiro
The nine images in the series represent the nine unique messages of each "djinn." This "djinn", draped in a gown of tangled and polluted fishing nets, communicates its concern over careless fishing tactics, and features a gown made of fishing nets.
The nine images in the series represent the nine unique messages of each "djinn." This "djinn", draped in a gown of tangled and polluted fishing nets, communicates its concern over careless fishing tactics, and features a gown made of fishing nets.
fabrice monteiro
Of all the issues represented in the series, Monteiro highlights the use of plastic bags as one of the most problematic. He describes the use and disposal of these bags as "anarchic," but also points out that it should be one of the easiest issues to tackle: "Political decisions have been made in numerous countries to forbid the production, importation and use of plastic bags. In one year the difference in the landscape of these countries is remarkable."
Of all the issues represented in the series, Monteiro highlights the use of plastic bags as one of the most problematic. He describes the use and disposal of these bags as "anarchic," but also points out that it should be one of the easiest issues to tackle: "Political decisions have been made in numerous countries to forbid the production, importation and use of plastic bags. In one year the difference in the landscape of these countries is remarkable."
fabrice monteiro
Monteiro uses powerful visuals and a strong narrative treatment as a means to "speak to the heart" of his viewer.
Monteiro uses powerful visuals and a strong narrative treatment as a means to "speak to the heart" of his viewer.
fabrice monteiro
Global warming and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2009%2FWORLD%2Fafrica%2F09%2F08%2Fwest.africa.flooding%2F">flooding</a> problems was another issue that the duo tackled throughout this two-year project.
Global warming and flooding problems was another issue that the duo tackled throughout this two-year project.
fabrice monteiro
Since "The Prophecy" was unveiled, the series has prompted an immediate positive environmental response in Dakar. According to Monteiro: "The slaughterhouse of Dakar was previously dumping waste directly in to the ocean, but has stopped that practice since the release of this picture."
Since "The Prophecy" was unveiled, the series has prompted an immediate positive environmental response in Dakar. According to Monteiro: "The slaughterhouse of Dakar was previously dumping waste directly in to the ocean, but has stopped that practice since the release of this picture."
fabrice monteiro
Monteiro and Doulsy have also teamed up with peer-topeer funding platform <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecofund.org%2Fproject%2Fprophecy.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">ecofund</a> to host debates on how to best tackle the issues projected in the series, such as chemical waste disposal in our oceans and the impact this has on marine life.
Monteiro and Doulsy have also teamed up with peer-topeer funding platform ecofund to host debates on how to best tackle the issues projected in the series, such as chemical waste disposal in our oceans and the impact this has on marine life.
fabrice monteiro
The series challenges mankind's abuse of natural resources as well as society's indifference to more sustainable ways of living. The model's headdress points to solar energy solutions.
The series challenges mankind's abuse of natural resources as well as society's indifference to more sustainable ways of living. The model's headdress points to solar energy solutions.
fabrice monteiro