Alon Zakaim Fine Art is delighted to present Michel Ghatan: From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains, a solo exhibition showcasing the majestic wildlife photography captured by Michel Ghatan. Curated by Helen Ho, this exhibition will span the photographer’s career to date, from his most celebrated image of the late big Tusker, Tim, to his most recent portraits of the Nyakagezi gorilla family in The Virunga Mountains.
Since first travelling to Tanzania in 2010, Michel has been in love with the East African wildlife, seeking its beauty and remoteness which contrasts his city life. Michel has spent the decade since this first visit further exploring Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda and Kenya, all the while developing his unique photographic process which is a testament to his passion for the wilderness. He uses local tribesmen including Maasai, Kikuyu and Samburu warriors as trackers, often on walking safaris – the purest method of meeting and photographing wild animals. Rather than relying on telephoto lenses and remote controls, which would allow him to work from the comfort of a Jeep, the majority of Michel’s photographs are taken on foot with a 35mm lens, often taken as close as two meters from his subjects.
Possibly the most exciting section of this exhibition will be the dedicated Gorilla Room, featuring photographs of mountain gorillas from Michel’s recent trip to Mount Muhabura (an inactive volcano with total elevation of 4,127 metres) in The Virunga Mountains.
Photographing mountain gorillas is a notoriously difficult task – these magnificent animals (who happen to share 98% of human DNA) live in what is known as “impenetrable forests”, an intensely dense terrain with poor visibility and humid tropical climate.
Over four days, trekking about six hours per day, at an altitude of 2,800 metres, Michel and his team of rangers and trackers focused on a family of gorillas that originated from Rwanda. This family is particularly unique for its high number of silverbacks (three). Given the endangered status of mountain gorillas, photographers like Michel are only allowed one hour per day with the gorillas, which makes it even more challenging.
Michel Ghatan
From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains
May 6 – June 9, 2022
Alon Zakaim Fine Art
27 Cork St, London W1S 3NG, UK
https://alonzakaim.com
© Michel Ghatan: From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains
© Michel Ghatan: From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains
© Michel Ghatan: From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains
© Michel Ghatan: From Kilimanjaro to The Virunga Mountains
