Leap of Faith

Posted by Mary Murray on September 8th 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Musem of Art

This week the Museum of Art opens the exhibition Leap of Faith, photographs of Burma (Myanmar) by Rochester-based Chris Kogut.

Bagan Sunrise, 2008

Here are some of Ms. Kogut’s comments about her own leap of faith:

“My desire to experience a third-world country unchanged by Western influence drew me to Burma, with its reputedly abundant imagery. I was perplexed by the traveller’s conundrum: does tourism support the oppressive military regime or aid in the survival of the people who rely upon tourists to support their families? Finally, in December 2007, I resolved to discover the answer for myself. I left for Burma with a group of like-minded photographers. We traveled for three weeks throughout the refugee camps in Northern Thailand and the environs of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Ava, Pindaya and Inle Lake. Our travel was limited to destinations permitted by the government, accompanied by an approved travel guide.

“Despite these limitations, the experience was rewarding. I was profoundly moved by this rich and ancient culture which resounds with the mystical beauty of the land despite isolation, subjugation and abject poverty. The simple nature captured in these images of daily life belies the true strength and perseverance of this oppressed society.

“This body of work is dedicated to the people of Burma, both those who have taken the enormous leap of faith required for resettling here in the United States, and those who remain in Burma, waking up every day to carry on with their lives regardless of uncertainty about their personal and national futures.”

Join us on Wednesday, September 14 at 4:30 in the Edward Wales Root Sculpture Court, Museum of Art, to celebrate the remarkable, colorful lives represented in Ms. Kogut’s fascinating photographs.