Pinoy photographer makes a splash on Paris art scene
PARIS — Jake Verzosa needs little introduction in the fashion and art scene. Free-spirited, bohemian in his ways and a lover of the great outdoors, this photographer has not only impressed the local folk but has succeeded in gaining a bigger audience. His distinct, acute sense of style and no-holds-barred approach to shooting has brought him to Paris, France for Photoquai 2009, a biennial exhibition of world images. This three-month-long exhibition, which recently concluded, was set up alongside the riverbanks of the Seine across the Musee de Quai Branly. Open to the public, this features the work of contemporary photographers from all over the world, hailing from as far as Africa to the Middle East with the purpose of promoting and discovering non-European photography.
Verzosa, one of 50 non-European photographers that took part in the exhibition, shares with the western world some of the most notable images he has captured throughout his extensive travels in Southeast Asia. Working in the Philippines and its neighboring countries, Cambodia and Vietnam, Verzosa offers us an intimate and revealing glimpse into the daily lives of indigenous peoples and its surroundings. His portfolio consists of raw, straightforward images praised for both their simplicity and complexity. YStyle celebrates this breakthrough and chats with the young artist about his new milestone.
YSTYLE: Congratulations, Jake. You’re an inspiration to us. Tell us about your Photoquai experience.
JAKE VERZOSA: I felt like I was dreaming. Now that I’m back in Manila, it still feels like a dream. I feel so fortunate to have showcased my work and be a part of Photoquai 2009. This was my very first time in Europe and it got me very excited.
How were you chosen? How did this exhibit come about?
I did not expect this to happen as I have not heard of this festival. I received an e-mail from Tadashi Ono, curator from the Photoquai Asia Pacific region, who took notice of my work on Southeast Asian Ethnic Minority groups at Silver Gallery. He informed me that I was listed as one of the photographers for the exhibition and that I would have the chance to take part in it.
What have you gleaned from exhibiting in Paris?
This has opened a lot of doors for me. I was a festival participant during the first half of my stay and a tourist during the last. It all seems like a blur because there was so much to see and do. But despite the busy schedule, I was able to make time for dialogue with other curators and photographers. I think the best thing you learn in festivals is that you get a sense of one’s place in the world.
What was it like meeting your peers from different parts of the world? What did you learn from them?
The selection of the works in the festival ranges from art to documentary, although sometimes they are intrinsically linked. What we have in common is the way photography directly interprets social, political or personal realities without qualification. It is a medium that is universal in the sense that it shows a captured reality. Each body of work is uniquely representative of what every photographer sees in their part of the world and that visual diversity has opened my mind to new perspectives.
Where are you headed now? What’s next for you?
My photography is always a work in progress. I go wherever my life takes me and photography will always be my channel. I will still be shooting, both professionally and personally. Although there’s always this inherent feeling of producing new work, I’m quite busy on other things at the moment like opening a photography gallery space.
