The Ghetto Tarot

Mystical and picturesque, visually stunning and true to life.
Inspired by the Rider Waite Tarot Deck, multi-award winning artist Alice Smeets re-enacts the symbolism of tarot cards in a spiritual way in the ghettos of Haiti.

Alice Smeets

22,5 × 27,5 cm
208 pages
186 photographs
English, German, French
Hardcover, bound in linen,
„French Fold“-jacket
ISBN 978-3-901753-97-8
October 2015

59.00
incl. 10% vat, excl. shipping
Free shipping to Austria and Germany

SKU: 978-3-901753-97-8 Categories: , Tags: , , ,

Authors

  • Alice Smeets

    Alice Smeets is a photographer, journalist, artist, film maker, project manager, teacher and traveller. “One descriptor alone does not justice [...] more

Awards

  • Deutscher Fotobuchpreis NOMINIERT
  • One Eyeland Photography Awards
  • Px3 Award - Prix de la Photographie

Details

The Ghetto Tarot interprets traditional tarot cards through the art of photography. The scenes are inspired by the Rider Waite Tarot Deck, designed in 1919 by artist Pamela Colman Smith, and were recreated with a group of Haitian artist, the Atis Rezistans collective, in the ghettos of Haiti. The traditional symbolism of the 78 tarot cards is transformed into timeless codes. “Taking ordinary pictures of the scenes seemed too simple, my aim was to create a very personal deck without losing the spirit of the cards. Therefore I hit on the idea of combining my passions: the spiritual world, the Haitian culture, the philosophical reflections about the dualities in our world and, of course, photography,” says Alice Smeets. The artists of Atis Rezistans had a special part in realizing this project. Not only did they act and model in front of the camera, they also provided and/or constructed the objects needed. Alice Smeets‘ project does not glorify the ghetto, nor does she show the expected image of poverty and despair in the Haitian slums. Instead she presents life in the ghetto in different lights, full of power, life, joy and creativity.

Photo blogger DL Cade, 500px, sums it up perfectly : “The creativity of some photographers astounds me. Just when you think you’ve seen every creative, strange and unique photo idea, another comes along. These fascinating images by award-winning photographer Alice Smeets transform the mysterious cards into real life scenes captured in the ghetto of Haiti.”

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Description

The Ghetto Tarot interprets traditional tarot cards through the art of photography. The scenes are inspired by the Rider Waite Tarot Deck, designed in 1919 by artist Pamela Colman Smith, and were recreated with a group of Haitian artist, the Atis Rezistans collective, in the ghettos of Haiti. The traditional symbolism of the 78 tarot cards is transformed into timeless codes. “Taking ordinary pictures of the scenes seemed too simple, my aim was to create a very personal deck without losing the spirit of the cards. Therefore I hit on the idea of combining my passions: the spiritual world, the Haitian culture, the philosophical reflections about the dualities in our world and, of course, photography,” says Alice Smeets. The artists of Atis Rezistans had a special part in realizing this project. Not only did they act and model in front of the camera, they also provided and/or constructed the objects needed. Alice Smeets‘ project does not glorify the ghetto, nor does she show the expected image of poverty and despair in the Haitian slums. Instead she presents life in the ghetto in different lights, full of power, life, joy and creativity.

Photo blogger DL Cade, 500px, sums it up perfectly : “The creativity of some photographers astounds me. Just when you think you’ve seen every creative, strange and unique photo idea, another comes along. These fascinating images by award-winning photographer Alice Smeets transform the mysterious cards into real life scenes captured in the ghetto of Haiti.”

Additional information

Weight1 kg / 2.2 lbs
Book Author