I developed an uncontainable curiosity about other cultures and other places while growing up in a very sterile Canada. It is this curiosity and my love for photography that have taken me all over the world. I am always amazed by the ethnic and cultural diversities, the different languages,customs and beliefs I would come across in my travels. My photographs allow me to share with others the diversity and beauty of the world I see.

 

But over the years, I have encountered a pressing urgency to see and document places and people in areas of theworld that are threatened by urbanization and globalization.   Places where traditional ways of life, ancientknowledge and customs, languages and cultural identities are vanishing at an unbelievable rate. 

 

All over the world, people are talking about endangered species and the loss of bio-diversity in nature.  It was only recently that many of us has noticed the loss of the bio-diversities of our cultures. Industrialization and urbanization are not only wiping out animal and plant species, but cultures that have been around for thousands of years are also rapidly becoming extinct. In fact, many governments, whether through ignorance  or greed, believe that they are doing these cultures a favor by bringing them into the 21st century. 

 

Through travel, we learn to develop tolerance and appreciation of others and ourselves. I have come to realize that our world and the people in it, with their different beliefs, customs, and languages are in fact all interconnected. When a culture disappears from this world, we have in fact extinguished a part of ourselves and a part of our past. By documenting these vanishing cultures, I hope my photographs will inspire others to take note and appreciate the wonders of these people and their traditions.

 

LLouie

 

Proud supporter of Seva Canada in their work to fight world blindness.