Video of PR Flag Project-Collaboration with Magnum Photographer Susan Meiselas- Parc La Villette Museum, Paris, France April 7- July 6, 2009

Photo-Ruben Natal-San Miguel

During last 2008 fall and winter,I had the privilege of collaborating with Magnum Photographer Susan Meiselas  on a project called The PR Flag and its identity. We spent many weekends and week days during the cold weather going to East Harlem, Lower East Side,  West Mid-Town Manhattan and the South Bronx finding places and people that represented the Puerto Rican Flag with dignity and pride. 

Not only working alongside Susan was such an incredible experience but, it also showed me, made me learn and appreciate a culture that , In which I was born and that, I never was able to  fully embrace  since, I grew up like a total stranger in the Island of Puerto Rico. I  left the Island at a very early age to go to college in US so, never really had the opportunity to be involved or part of what, I had just experienced it in the last 10 months. 

The project was part of a major exhibition shown at Parc  La Villette Museum in Paris , France from April 7- July 6, 2009. 

Here is the link to see the video presentation:

http://gallery.me.com/susanmeiselas#100011/full_preview&bgcolor=black

Thank you Susan !

Interview with Susan Meiselas- Magnum Photographer and Lucie Award for Photojournalism!

Nicaragua-Book by Susan Meiselas RE-relased by Aperture 2008

Photo of Susan Meiselas

USA

Essex Juntion , Vermont 1973 ,

'Lena on the Bally Box'

ARTmostfierce had the pleasure and privilege of having a small chat with Magnum photographer and Lucie Award honoree for Best achievement in Photojournalism , Susan Meiselas. We had a conversation in Spanglish (Susan is quite fluent in Spanish) so, I decided to post this interview in English and Spanish.

The idea behind it is to show how global the approach of Susan body of work is and for me to get back to my roots and fine tune my first language. To me photojournalism is the most important and significant aspect of photography.

With books singings of the re-release of Nicaragua June 1978-July 1979 (Aperture2008) and a current show at the International Center of Photography, Susan epitomizes 

what a true photojournalist is .

So here is a quick interview with her, First in English.

Ruben Natal-San Miguel- Susan , Congratulations ! I went to see your show
and the book signing at the International Center of Photography and I really liked your show .

Susan Meiselas - Thank you!

RNSM-Well I know you don't have a lot of time so let's get to it.

RNSM-Your photos have a cinematic/documentary quality , Is that your main source of inspiration?

SM- I always become interested in a topic that has a deeper theme running through it. If a conflict or issue gets my attention, then I act on it . Sometimes it takes the course of time to see how long it works on you or not. Projects like Nicaragua have been 25 years in the making.


RNSM- How do you differentiate your commissioned editorial work vs. your free artistic work?

SM- Commissioned editorial work can be more limited in the exploration of a subject. I don't do commercial work because it is not documentary, basically, by portraying a product you just do your best to sell it and please a client. The artistic work is more about discovery, and then finding a specific narrative structure to communicate it.

RNSM-What is your favorite photograph or series of your work and why?

SM-Well ...that is a hard question to ask any artist! I would say that the stripper series is still very special to me, in particular the photo on the cover of my book, Carnival Strippers, entitled, Lena on the Bally.

RNSM- What is the best piece of advise that you can provide to an aspiring photographer in order to succeed?

SM- I think it is very important to feel the work. Let the work , work on you!

RNSM-Do you think the work of a photojournalist can change the way we see and interact in our society and the world?

SM-I do think we can influence the way we see and think about the world around us, and perhaps interact with more consciousness at best, but we don't make change alone, we can only inspire others to.

RNSM-Is there a particular topic or conflict that you have not addressed or portrayed as a photojournalist that you would like to explore and why?

SM-I still am concerned about domestic violence, not only in America, but elsewhere in the world, especially honor killings in the Middle East, but it will take more time to find an approach to be effective in portraying the complexity of what is happening there.

RNSM- What is next in your work agenda? What kind of project are you currently working on?

SM- The staus of double identity related to the Puerto Rican Flag. How people of Puerto Rican descent feel toward the Flag as an identity symbol. I wonder, is their attachment an act of resistance to the colonialism of the United States?

RNSM-Wow that hits right at home! Thank you for your time and thoughts!

Now the Spanish interview version!
Si no habla Espanol...Learn it!!!

 
RNSM-Susan! Felicitaciones!

Yo fui ver la apertura de la exibicion y autografia de libro Nicaragua en el Instituto Central de Fotografia (ICP) NYC.Me fascino la exibicion del trabajo!

Susan Meiselas- Muchas Gracias!

RNSM-Bueno…comprendo que no tienes mucho tiempo , voy hacer unas cuantas preguntas muy rapidito!
Su trabajo fotografico tiene una calidad cinematografica o de tipo mas documentario, Es tu mayor inspiracion?

SM- Yo siempre estado interesada en temas o sutuaciones que tienen mas condiciones con otras situaciones a la par .Si una situacion en particular me atrae la atencion , yo tomo accion. A veces toma mucho tiempo para saber si la situacion o conflicto puede funcionar o no. El projecto de Nicaragua por ejemplo, lleva 25 anos en produccion.

RNSM-Como puedes establecer una diferencia entre el trabajo comercial y el mas artistico?

SM-El trabajo comercial puede ser mas limitado en la exploracion de un tema. Yo prefiero no hacer trabajo comercial porque no tiene la escencia del trabajo de tipo documentario.
Basicamente demostrando un producto es una tarea para vender un producto lo mejor possible y complacer el cliente.
El trabajo artistico es mas de naturaleza exploratoria y encontrar una estructura narrativa mas especifica para poder comunicarla.

RNSM-Cual es tu serie de trabajo fotografico o foto favorita ? Por que?

SM- Bueno…esa es una pregunta muy dificil para contestar para qualquier artista !
Yo diria que la series de fotografia llamadas Strippers (burlesco) para mi, es muy especial , en particular la foto de la portada del libro Carnival Strippers‘Lena on the Bally’.

RNSM-Que es el mejor consejo que puedes proveer a un aspirante de fotografia para desarrollar una carera exitosa?

SM- Yo pienso que es muy importante sentir el trabajo. Permitir que el trabajo te inspire trabajar.

RNSM-Piensas en tu opinion que el trabajo fotografico de tipo documentario puede cambiar la manera de que el mundo es visto y su interaccion?

SM- Yo pienso que nosotros podemos podemos influenciar la manera que vemos y pensamos con respecto a el mundo alrededor de nosotros y a lo mejor participar con mas conciencia. El cambio no ocurre por si solo, pero podermos inspirar otros en el proceso para tomar accion.

RNSM-Que tipo de situacion, tema o conflicto que no hayas desarollado te gustaria explorar y por que?

SM- Yo estoy muy procupada con la situacion de violacion domestica, no solamente en America pero tambien, en otras partes del mundo especialmente las Matanzas de Honor en el Middle East (Oriente Medio). Creo que va a tomar mucho tiempo para buscar una manera de demonstrar el grado de complejidad  que esta ocurriendo con este conflicto.

RNSM- En que estas trabajando ahora? Que tipo de projecto ?

SM-El estado de doble identidad relacionado con la Bandera Puertoriquena.Como la gente de decendencia puertoriquena se sienten con respecto a su bandera como un simbolo de su identidad. Me pregunto…si el amor y orgullo de la bandera de PR tiene que ver con la resistencia a el Coloniamismo de los Estados Unidos (USA).

RNSM-Bueno! Esto es muy personal para mi! Muchas gracias por la oportunidad de conversar y tus ideas!


http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.4391347/
www.susanmeiselas.com/