One would expect of a documentary photographer an honest and correct reproduction of her environment, unadultered snapshots of an often harsch reality. And when multitalent Alice Smeets dedicates herself creatively to a project, she does not do it one bit different. For 'The Ghetto Tarot', Alice Smeets combined her passion for the spiritual world with a love of Haitian culture and interpreted antique Tarot cards photographically in a new way with local means in the Slums of Haiti aided by the Haitian artist group Atis Rezistans. On 208 pages, Edition Lammerhuber has now published the result: an authentic art card game with 186 illustrations, which was also presented until 14 November in an exhibition at ARTCO gallery in Aachen.
The basic idea is as simple as it is creative: reproduce a deck of cards realistically. Inspired by the mystical nostalgic scenes of the Rider Waite Tarot decks from 1919 which, at the same time, is shaped by her work as a documentary photographer, photo artist Alice Smeets, however, developed a product reminiscent of reportage. She combines the mysticism of Tarot cards with scenes from everyday life in the ghettos of Haiti, who were embodied and creatively staged by Atis Rezistans, a group of Haitian artists, who were both actors in front of the camera and delivered the objects used in the photos. The photos show neither praise nor voyeurism, but instead reflect spirit, joie de vivre and creativity.
Alice Smeets is a photographer, journalist, artist, film maker, project manager, teacher and traveler. “One descriptor alone does not justice to what I do. I am a free spirit. I follow my heart to realize my dreams and ideas. I had the great good fortune to work with Philip Jones Griffiths, one of the greatest photojournalists of the last century. He taught me valuable lessons about photography and life.” Since 2007 Alice has repeatedly lived and worked in Haiti for extended periods of time. In 2010 she founded Viv Timoun, a non-profit organization to develop projects in Haiti.
Alice Smeets - The Ghetto Tarot
Illustrated book at Edition Lammerhuber on 208 pages, edition.lammerhuber.at