Artist Statement

In 1999 under a blazing night sky in the Sahara, a Touareg nomad and I had a far-ranging conversation about global events in spite of the fact that he spent life wandering a small corner of an empty desert. When I asked him how he was so worldly, he responded, “Je suis nomade civilisée”. That is, “I am a civilized nomad”.

It resonated. Specifically, his idea that one comes to know the world by moving through it with curiosity — a hunger for learning — without getting stuck in one place or set of ideas, and whatever one’s origins.

My photographs are, above all, an attempt to uncover and communicate aspects of the world that remind us of two things:

First, we are all far more similar to — than different from — one another, and because of it, we should be able to bridge over whatever disparities legitimately exist between us. Second, the discovery of the “unfamiliar” widens our world views, leading to increased optimism, and improved sense-making.

In today’s climate of extreme discord, I believe what people need is expansive thinking, not a retreat into tribalism.

Like the Touareg I encountered in the desert, we need to thread geographies and cultures with deep immersion in the unfamiliar, in order to appreciate the richness of the human experience.

For exhibits, marketing and engagement efforts, I can be reached directly at anthony@nomadecivilisee.com

For fine art print purchases, I am represented by Arterial Toronto at contact@arterialtoronto.com and Penumbra at info@imagefoundry.ca

© Anthony Fieldman, 2023 — All Rights Reserved.

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