MoPA presents 'Humanitas: Images of India' by Fredric Roberts

Wednesday, 26 March 2008 23:12

San Diego, CA – The Museum of Photographic Arts is pleased to present Humanitas: Images of India by Fredric Roberts from May 3 – September 7, 2008. Both genuine and profound, Humanitas: Images of India tells a story of beauty and grace, work and family, spirituality and devotion, while also decoding the notion of documentation and representation. The exhibition is the result of a five-year photographic adventure. Award winning photographer Fredric Roberts photographs ordinary life throughout the developing world, from daily events to ceremonies, revealing the intimacy and community of place.
 
Roberts traveled throughout Asia, from India to Cambodia, Bhutan to Thailand, Myanmar to China, capturing with his lens its people in all their understanding, compassion, fortitude, and honor.  This exhibition features his travels through India—Mumbai, and throughout the state of Gujarat: Chhota Udepur, Ahmedabad, Poshina, Zainabad, Bhuj, Gondal, and Palitana. In his portraits, the subject often looks directly at the photographer and then to the viewer. "When I look at the people I photograph, I see that they have a larger vision of life, a vision that transcends monetary wealth. It is about their relationship with their god, with their land, neighbors, and family. It is the power of those relationships that I want to communicate," says Roberts. These photographs reveal the rapport Roberts establishes with his subjects, as well as their own sense of elegance and self-possession.
 
His collection of work is known as Humanitas, which means the development of human virtue in all its forms, to its fullest extent.  Cicero, the great Roman orator and philosopher, coined the term humanitas (literally, "human nature") to describe the development of human virtue in all its forms, denoting fortitude, judgment, prudence, eloquence, and even love of honor--which contrasts with our contemporary connotation of humanity (understanding, benevolence, compassion, mercy). The Latin term is certainly a fitting title, as the viewer is struck not with pity for his subjects' poverty, but with respect and awe for their individual fortitude and eloquence; each photograph tells us a compelling story. From a touching portrait of a mother and child to isolated monks at prayer, Roberts's photographs introduce a wide array of fascinating individuals. Humanitas: Images of India captures the spirit and the beauty of each subject and is satisfying to any lover of photography or travel. "This compelling exhibition meshes cultural and aesthetic approaches to seeing and representing the world. I think visitors will find it both intellectually provocative and highly enjoyable as they form their own connections through the experience of Fredric Roberts's photographs," observes MoPA’s Executive Director, Deborah Klochko.  

Running concurrently at MoPA are Picturing the Process: Portraiture Through the Lens on view January 12 - July 6, 2008 and Flesh: The Portraiture of Gary Schneider on view April 26 – September 14, 2008.
 
Artist Information
FREDRIC ROBERTS is a photographer who resides in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. He is represented by the Stephen Cohen Gallery in Los Angeles, the Andrew Smith Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Hamburg Kennedy Photographs in New York. His photographs are in the collections of Stanford University and the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.

In December 2003, he was a winner in two categories of the International Photography Awards.  The awards include 1st Place for Photojournalism/Photo Essay, 1st Place for Fine Art/Landscape and 3rd Place for Photojournalism/PhotoEssay.  In 2004, he was awarded 2nd Place in the Travel/Tourism category. His first book, HUMANITAS Volume One, was a finalist for Foreward Magazine's 2005 Book Of  The Year Award in the Photography category.  In December, 2007, his second book, HUMANITAS II, was featured in the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2007.  It also received Honorable Mentions in the 2007 Lucie Awards Fine Art and People categories, as did 17 of the individual images from that book.
 
The Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) is one of the few museums in the country devoted to photography, film and video.  Since its founding in 1983, MoPA has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the entire spectrum of the photographic medium. The museum’s endeavors consistently address cultural, historical and social issues through its exhibitions and public programs. Visit www.mopa.org  for information about exhibitions, programs and special events.
 
The Museum of Photographic Arts is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member-supported, private, non-profit institution.  Additional support for museum programs is provided in part by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, the Weingart-Price Fund, the San Diego Foundation, Patrons of the Prado, and the National Endowment for the Arts.