The stitched hand of a 14-year-old Honduran boy attacked by a gang with machetes whilst making his way on ‘La Bestia’ to the USA. Returning home is not an option as his father is the head of the same gang that maimed him
For eighteen months, Von Bargen travelled to twenty-three Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) missions in ten countries, documenting life amidst unfolding global conflicts.
Through interviews, photography, recordings, and video, Von Bargen has illuminated the tapestry of human struggle and perseverance across the globe.
This monumental effort was undertaken not only by the artist, but a group of protagonists including
doctors, medical staff, volunteers, and everyday people—the cacophony of voices form
So.lil.o.quy.
Alec Von Bargen
Biography: Born in New York City, Alec Von Bargen is a multidisciplinary artist; a social anthropologist of sorts. Using photography as the starting point for his artistic proposal, he captures aesthetic instances resonating true with their historical, political and social contexts. Although his research is meticulous, he does not prep, pre-produce, light or stage for the creation of his murals, sculptures, installations and video pieces. Von Bargen recently exhibited at both the 54th and 56th editions of the Venice Biennale, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the OCT Museum in Shanghai, China and Les Rencontres D’Arles Festival, France, amongst others. His work has won numerous awards including the IPA’s in LA, the Sony awards and the PX3’s in Paris. He was a finalist at the Dubai Emerging Artist Award and Aesthetica Magazine selected him as finalist for their prestigious award in 2019. He was finalist for the Terry O’Neill Award and the Celeste Prize in Berlin, Germany. His most recent series is included in the 161st Royal Photographic Society exhibition. Alec is Visual Advisor to both the Venice Film Festival’s ‘Biennale College Cinema’ and the Red Sea Film Festival’s ‘Red Sea Lodge’ He spends most of his time between Italy and Mexico but works all over the world.
Artist statement: Artist by profession, photographer by inspiration, playwright by ‘obstination’, actor by dedication and world traveler by addiction. Born in New York, living in Italy, grew up in England and Mexico, German parents, 5 and 1/3 languages plus a healthy passion for all things Asia. Carbon footprint’s off the chart yet recycling is fundamental as are all things green. Human rights are an obsession: live and let live. Some use the term ‘Wanderlust’, others claim to be “In search of”, many are clearly running away from and quite a few are simply lost. I can’t relate to any of the above and yet I’m guilty of all four. I’m somewhat the consequence of a lifestyle-inherited… the by-product of a set of circumstances… all I know is that my life is one long journey and that I spend most nights dreaming on foreign bed sheets, conversing with fragrances of adopted pillowcases many. My images are my waking companions, my accomplices… my alibi. My work reveals the conversation I sustain with the world. It is
immediate. I do not stage, light or prep. My subjects are the people, the places, the moments that share my journey… those emotions I meet along the way…