About this Event
Join us for Carrying Life: A Conversation with Laura El-Tantawy & Laura Summerton - The event is from 6-9pm with the talk from 7-8pm. There are limited tickets of 50.
From dangerous journeys to unsafe childbirth, women live with the physical and emotional burden of not having clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. This is a reality for hundreds of communities around the world. In 2022, WaterAid invited award-winning British/Egyptian artist Laura El-Tantawy to document the stories of women in Malawi who are living with the daily worry of securing clean water. Carrying Life: Motherhood and Water in Malawi explores the emotional and physical experience of women both at home and when they stay at 'Guardian Shelters', supporting each other while waiting to go into labour.
The images are currently on show at More London Riverside, situated along the Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. This large scale outdoor installation features moving images, sound and photographs. The work is also out as a self-published book titled Pang’Ono Pang’Ono.
In this conversation WaterAid's Photography Manager, Laura Summerton and artist Laura El-Tantawy will discuss their collaborative partnership in the context of NGO photography commissions, how artists can retain their authentic voice whilst working with charities and other organisations, and the importance of safeguarding whilst on a shoot.
There will be a limited number of copies of Pang’Ono Pang’Ono available for sale at the event.
Laura El-Tantawy:
Laura El-Tantawy is an award winning British/Egyptian documentary photographer, book maker & educator. Living between East and West for much of her life inspires her work. Her projects investigate notions of home and belonging, routinely approaching her work from a social and environmental perspective inspired by her transatlantic background. Her visual explorations often intertwine moving images, sound, and personal narratives, marked by the artist’s lyrical eye on reality. Her work is recognised internationally, including the prestigious Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, PHMuseum and Prix Virginia. She lives between London and Cairo.
https://www.lauraeltantawy.com
Laura Summerton:
Laura Summerton is the Photography Manager at WaterAid, where she works with a global team to share stories of people living without access to water and sanitation in new, engaging and, most importantly, ethical ways. She also works with a range of organisations — from grassroots arts charities to international photo festivals, bringing with her a story-led, socially engaged approach to visuals.
https://www.wateraid.org/uk/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Photobookcafe, 4 Leonard Circus, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00