Pieter Hugo: Selected Works

South African photographer Hugo (Permanent Error) documents his homeland by taking portraits of the people who live there. A self-described political artist, Hugo realized early in his career that he could make powerful statements with his camera. This third book is a retrospective of his award-winning portrait work, which showcases a range of styles from documentary to studio work, including never-before-published photos of his family. Hugo focuses carefully on discrete social groups, including those that may be strange or marginalized (Nigerian actors, native African albinos, Ghanaian trash pickers, etc.). The book includes two essays by T.J. Demos (art history, Univ. Coll. London) and photographer Aaron Schuman that place Hugo's work within the canon of contemporary photography. VERDICT Hugo's camera treats each person with an artistic sensitivity that respects his or her individuality. Often startling to view, these portraits powerfully reflect the complex struggles within contemporary Africa.—Shauna Frischkorn, Millersville Univ., PA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.