Underwater World by Michel RoggoExperience the beauty and uniqueness of water |
| By Syed Muhd Hafiz | |||||
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Discovering photography at an age which is considered to be relatively late – thirty years old, Michel Roggo has come a long way in documenting the underwater world. Michel has an affinity towards the element of water and of course, the different species that inhabit its environment. His passion has taken him from his home country Switzerland, to the rainforests of Amazon, the rivers in Rocky Mountain and the underground caves of Croatia, just to name a few breathtaking locations. Michel’s favourite spots include untouched springs, creeks, rivers and lakes. His pursuits have won him many accolades and his photography exhibitions have enthralled many across Europe. Having said “water is life”, Michel’s connection with the underwater world goes beyond the visual documentation of a photographer. His upcoming show is brought to the Arts House during the period of the Singapore International Water Week 2010 (SIWW 2010) by swissnex Singapore, a platform of the Swiss Embassy dedicated to science, education, arts and innovation, under the umbrella of the European Festival “encore!”. It portrays images that attempt to capture the ebb and flow of the environment he works in. His fluid depiction of the underwater world is even more challenging considering the fact that some of the pictures were taken from the shore, using self-developed systems with auto-capturing methods. Looking at some of the images of the photographer at work, is like looking at a half-human, half-robot figure with his camera light set-up resembling tentacles offering superior vision underwater. While technology enables a photographer of the underwater world to confront harsh conditions, it takes a committed explorer to scout for the unlikeliest of locations and produce photos that readers would never thought be possible. Winner of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009, Michel has published over 10,000 pictures since he turned professional in 1987. His commitment in defining underwater photography takes on an inter-disciplinary approach as well, with musical-visual installations, as previously shown at the Château de Gruyères, Switzerland in January 2009. Having worked as a junior curator at the Fribourg Museum of Natural History during the mid-eighties, Michel’s concern towards audience’s experience extends to his photography exhibitions as well. Ultimately, Underwater World, besides offering visitors the wonders and splendours of an environment that has long fascinated man, also brings to the fore the underlying concern of conservation. Unlike the vociferous and aggressive environmentalist lobbies, Michel’s underwater photography offers a subtle yet poignant message, that we have much to lose should we continue our laissez faire attitudes towards underwater life conservation. On display, exhibition visitors will be able to appreciate images of fishes and plants in the Amazon, salmons in the North American Pacific Ocean as well as rare salmons from the Atlantic Ocean in the rivers of Québec. Embedded in the water theme of the SIWW 2010, this exhibition encompasses a wide spectrum of issues, ranging from photography aesthetics to environmental protection, offering multiple entry points for visitors. For more information please visit www.swissnexsingapore.org.
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