Sadhus

<p> <strong>NEWS</strong> A huge THANK YOU to all! The fundraising goal was reached in 10 days only. It corresponds to the minimum viable in order to achieve the book. However, it requires a very large personal investment... The <strong>overall project budget exceeds € 10,000</strong> and I think we can approach it in the remaining 36 days ... I count on you to share this project around, spread the word via social networks, etc..</p> <p> You are the ambassadors of the book!</p> <p> <strong>All together, let's keep sharing !</strong></p> <p> <img alt="Message_baba_gb" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/24497/message_baba_GB.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Who am I ?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Olivier Remualdo, 35 years old.</p> <p> A photographer in love with India and beautiful encounters.</p> <p> I've spent more than a year and a half in India since I first travelled there in 2004.</p> <p> Numerous photo projects and exhibitions were done about indian culture in France and abroad.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Shooting_baba3" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11520/shooting_Baba3.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>THE BOOK</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> About 140 pages.</p> <p> 120 photographs.</p> <p> Bilingual French / English.</p> <p> Approximate Dimensions 22 x 22 cm.</p> <p> Foreword by <a href="http://site.patricklevy.free.fr/patricklevy-english.html" target="_blank">Patrick Levy, author of "Sadhus Going Beyond the dreadlocks"</a>" and the bestseller, "The Kabbalist"</p> <p> Edition of 1100 copies.</p> <p> Including a art numbered edition of 100 ex.</p> <p> The art edition includes a portfolio of 2 fine arts numbered prints on baryte paper.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="O_remualdo_sadhus_espace_pierre_cardin4" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11363/O_Remualdo_Sadhus_Espace_Pierre_Cardin4.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>THE PROJECT ...</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Started in 2009, the Sadhus project is a <strong>long-term work</strong>: three journeys were necessary to achieve this portrait gallery of Hindus wandering monks. In Hindi, the word sadhu literally means holy man. These ascetics aspire to spiritual enlightenment by detaching themself from the material world. Their number is estimated at over 5 million in India.</p> <p> The specificity of my approach is to differentiate itself from the scenic representation usually made of these men. I photograph them at the place we meet, with a locally <strong>handmade photographic background</strong>. Through this process, I wish to offer the viewer the opportunity to pose a people-centered view, out of established visual codes ...</p> <p>  </p> <p> During these three journeys over <strong>110 Sadhus </strong>were photographed and interviewed, hundreds met ...</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Dsc_0339-001" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11364/DSC_0339-001.JPG"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Shooting_baba2" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11521/shooting_Baba2.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>"LA BELLE HISTOIRE..."</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong><u>First trip - 2009</u></strong></em></p> <p>  </p> <p> A <strong>friendship story</strong> is at the origin of this project.</p> <p> My friend Jean-Charles Ecrement and I started in <strong>Varanasi in 2009.</strong> We wanted to talk about those men and share a little of this inspiring Indian wisdom through a series of portraits.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The approach is meant to be the <strong>sincerest possible</strong> and images of the project are the result of <strong>real encounters...</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_2479" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11367/BAB_2479.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_2538" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11369/BAB_2538.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_2236" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11370/BAB_2236.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_2407" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11371/BAB_2407.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>After that first trip we have designed th<strong>e first layout of the "Sadhus of Benares" </strong><strong>book</strong>.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>The book was awarded the "<strong>Grand Prize </strong><strong>Winner</strong>" at the Best Blurb Book Contest.</em></p> <p> <em>Travel Category 1800 participants.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Blurb_proof" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11365/blurb_proof.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><u><strong>2nd trip - 2010</strong></u></em></p> <p>  </p> <p> We were supposed to keep on the project together but I continued without Jean-Charles at Haridwar in 2010.</p> <p> The day before we meet at Delhi airport, I learned by telephone that an event forced him to stay in France. With his his consent, I continued the project thanks to another friend, René Garbarino, who came to help.</p> <p>  </p> <p> We spent three weeks at the <strong>Maha Khumb </strong><strong>Mella</strong>; at the heart of what is the largest religious gathering in the world.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="-3" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11383/-3.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> Incredibly, we meet on the first shooting day <strong>Dharam Puri Maharaj</strong>, the Naga sadhu who made the cover of the first book! Among millions of pilgrims present on that day we meet him, but this kind of small miracles happens in India.</p> <p>  </p> <p> These 3 weeks will be extremely prolific in terms of pictures and I learned so much from meetings and  interviews. The craft background now manages us to take portraits of standing Sadhus.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_7822" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11372/BAB_7822.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_7785" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11373/BAB_7785.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_7951" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11374/BAB_7951.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_8424" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11375/BAB_8424.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em>After this second journey took place the first exhibition of the Sadhus project within the framework of the  12th Sept'Off in Nice (France), Festival of Mediterranean photography. </em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>The exhibition is awarded the Lucien Clergue award</strong> (1st prize of the Festival).</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Nicematin" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11366/nicematin.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><u><strong>3rd trip - 2011</strong></u></em></p> <p>  </p> <p> the saga is continuing in 2001 in Maharashtra, mainly in Omkareshwar, a sacred island on the Narmada River. Concerned with being as accurate as possible in this iconographic work, I took interrest in photographing families of Sadhus that are missing in the project as well in <strong>Sadhvis</strong>, the women Sadhus.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_8163" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11404/BAB_8163.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="5_-_o_remualdo_sadhus_espace_pierre_cardin" height="813" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11376/5_-_O_Remualdo_Sadhus_Espace_Pierre_Cardin.jpg" width="540"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_8455" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11377/BAB_8455.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Bab_8514" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11378/BAB_8514.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><u><strong>A fourth very personal journey </strong></u><u><strong>..</strong></u>.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> It is in Rishikesh, after Haridwar Kumbh Mella, that I meet <strong>Ananda </strong><strong>Baba</strong>. This lettered Sadhus is a swami that lived an extraordinary life. He traveled a lot (United States, Europe, Australia, ...) before making his vows and to renounce to the world. In Hindi Ananda means bliss and this can be read on his face. This meeting is so magical that I spend the whole day with him. Then I returned to Delhi in the evening of that day. He left the day after for a walking pilgrimage to the sources of the Ganges.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>It is a journey on foot and alone to the sources of the Ganges that this meeting has inspired me ...</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Himalaya_portrait" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11212/Himalaya_Portrait.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>One year later</strong>, it is from our meeting place that I undertake the same adventure. My motivation is twofold: to go further in my knowledge about Sadhus by traveling their traditional way but also , as a personal challenge because I think we limit ourselves in what we can achieve ...</p> <p>  </p> <p> I'll walk <strong>more than <strong>600km</strong></strong> and up to 4500m high. Rallying the three sources of Ganges: Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri. Some nights will be spent under the stars, others in ashrams or in dharamsallahs who welcome pilgrims.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The journey was wonderful and gave birth to another series of photographs<strong>: Yatra - 2011.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Yatra" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11390/yatra.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>2012, a year of exhibitions ...</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> In March 2012, I am invited to exhibit at the <strong>Espace Pierre Cardin</strong> in Paris. The Sadhus and "Yatra" series are on the Champs Elysees! I also exhibited at the Trans'art Festival in Cogolin and at the Mougins Museum of Photography in early 2013.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Expo_cardin" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11395/expo_cardin.jpg"></p> <p> Espace Pierre Cardin - Paris</p> <p> <img alt="227453_421557497893680_923288704_n" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11210/227453_421557497893680_923288704_n.jpg"></p> <p> Trans'Art Festival in Cogolin </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> From the beginning of the project I attach myself to choose <strong>unexpected places </strong>of exhibition or on shift  with the topic to surprise the audience. This is how I started to launch my "<strong>Street Exhibition</strong>" concepts in Perpignan (Visa pour l'Image), Paris (Paris Photo) and even in Berlin...</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Perpignan" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11207/Perpignan.jpg"> Perpignan - Visa pour l'image</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Paris_1" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11208/Paris_1.jpg"> Paris - Paris Photo</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Berlin1" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11209/Berlin1.jpg"></p> <p> Berlin - Shoah Memorial</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>2013, Year of the book...</strong> </em></p> <p>  </p> <p> Traditional ways for publishing are complicated for little well known photographers. So, I decided to launch the self publishing of this book by relying on <strong>my</strong><strong> own structure</strong> and an association.</p> <p>  </p> <p> While realizing these portraits of wandering Hindu monks, I explained them that we had no sadhus in France.<strong> I promise t</strong>o talk about them in my country through exhibitions as well as a book.</p> <p>  </p> <p> If these portraits of men and women inspire you ...</p> <p>  </p> <p> If you like these images of India and the message of wisdom they share ...</p> <p>  </p> <p> If you want to contribute making my promise to these men a reality ...</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>... then I'll invite you to attend this subscription!</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="Darshan" src="https://kkbb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/project_image/image/11400/darshan.jpg"></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>                                                         A big THANK YOU to all of you...</strong></p>