“Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
After viewing Sebastián Suki Beláustegui’s photography collection, this quote by Elliot Erwitt made much more sense to me. Choice pieces of his photography are currently on display at the Mississippi State University Visual Arts Center.
Beláustegui, who goes by Suki, is a self-taught photographer from Argentina who has dedicated his life to learning about indigenous cultures across the world. He has traveled through countries and lived in 25 indigenous communities. His photographs don’t just show people these environments, they tell a story.
Lori Neuenfeldt, the gallery director, said Suki’s latest body of work is titled “Africa in the Americas” and he has been documenting American people with African heritage and learning about the variety of cultures across the Americas. She said his work shows the individuality of the people in these communities and offers a unique opportunity for students to learn about them.
“Photography is a means to access and understand the world,” Neuenfeldt said, “and Suki’s pieces lend students the opportunity to access cultures that have been overlooked or lost in translation.”
One of the photographs in the gallery is of a man on a boat with a large bag of colorful flowers. While this photo is striking in and of itself, it is also a testament to the intimacy Suki has and the trust he gains from the people he photographs. Suki does not even bring out his camera on his first day in an area– he spends time with the people.
Karina Zelaya, a professor at MSU, has been helping plan Suki’s visit since this fall. She said she has been looking forward to Suki visiting and said she is very hopeful that students will take this opportunity to hear his story and see his art.
“I grew up in El Salvador during the civil war,” Zelaya said, “it was a difficult upbringing, and often it was hard to find the positivity in things. Suki’s photographs, without a word, transcend past the violence and suffering amongst these cultures, and show the beauty.”
The photos in the gallery can expose students to something otherwise foreign and the pieces the department of art chose to showcase are rich with cultural diversity and beauty.
Suki’s photography is available now until March 24 in the Visual Arts Center Gallery at 808 University Drive and they are open Monday-Saturday from 1-4 p.m.
He will be at the gallery for a reception from 5-6 p.m. on March 7. There will be refreshments and opportunities for students to speak with Suki. This reception is free and everyone is welcome.
Suki will be in the Union from 6-8 p.m. on March 8, speaking about his work. This is also free and open to the public. The reception on March 7 will be more intimate, but both events will allow students to interact with Suki and ask questions.
