Cristina de Middel Afronauts print – “NDIO” *SOLD*

Cristina de Middel, NDIO, 2012-2013.   SOLD OUT

Cristina de Middel, NDIO, 2012-2013.Cristina de Middel is one of four artists who is shortlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2013. In 1964, after gaining independence, Zambia started a space programme led by Edward Makuka Nkoloso, sole member of the unheard of National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy. The programme, whose aim was to send the first African astronauts to Mars, was soon cancelled, becoming no more than an amusing anecdote in the country’s history. In The Afronauts De Middel creates a subjective version of the story engaging with myths and truths. The self-published book is comprised of a series of constructed colour photographs, sequenced alongside drawings and reproductions of letters, resulting in a fictional portrait of a national dream.

The four artists shortlisted for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2013 are the artist duo Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin, Mishka Henner, Chris Killip and Cristina De Middel. The Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2013 is presented by The Photographers’ Gallery, London. The annual award of £30,000 rewards a living photographer, of any nationality, for a specific body of work in an exhibition or publication format, which has significantly contributed to photography in Europe between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012.

"As a photojournalist I have always been attracted by the excentric lines of story-telling avoiding the same old subjects told in the same old ways. Now , with my personal projects, I respect the basis of the truth but allow myself to break the rules of veracity trying to push the audience into analyzing the patterns of the stories we consume as real. “Afronauts” is based on the documentation of an impossible dream that only lives in the pictures. I start from a real fact that took place 50 years ago and rebuild the documents adapting them to my personal imagery."

Medium: Print
Size: 50 x 50 cm
Edition of 20
Signed and numbered
Price: SOLD OUT

This limited edition Cristina de Middel Afronauts print is available at The Photographer's Gallery