Sebastião Salgado

To mark the release of the movie ‘The Salt of the Earth’, which follows Sebastião Salgado, Polka Galerie has given Wim Wenders a carte blanche to curate an exhibition of the famous photographer’s work. He has chosen fifteen images that he deems momentous.

Photography is what brought the Brazilian artist and the German filmmaker together.

“I believe Sebastião Salgado to be the witness of humanity. I’ve been following his work for a quarter of a century. The image of a Tuareg woman taken in Ethiopia in 1984 profoundly moved me. I wanted to know the story behind it and the man who was able to take such a dignified portrait of her. We met in his Parisian apartment. He showed me the project he was working on: Genesis. Immediately, I understood the scope of the undertaking. I was fascinated by the strength of his engagement and his determination. One day, he asked me if I would consider getting involved in the cinematographic adventure he and his son had embarked on. They felt that they needed another point of view, the stance of an outsider.”

The ‘adventure’ that Wim Wenders speaks of is what resulted in “The Salt of the Earth”, a documentary, which received the “Special Prize” in the “Un Certain Regard” category at the 2014 Cannes Festival. The movie provides insights into the life and work of Sebastião Salgado through the eyes of Juliano Robeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders.

Polka wanted to make visible the affinity that exists between the two image-makers.

Sebastião Salgado curated by Wim Wenders is a declaration of friendship.