This week for #KTFB we are highlighting a conversation by SUNU Journal with photographer and photo curator Sarah Stacke and her project the D.R.C Archive Project.
The Democratic Republic of Congo Archive Project is an initiative aiming to develop a library that preserve and expose Congolese vernacular Photographies to help and define the country in terms other than victimization and conflict.
By researching and scanning historic, contemporary photos studio and family photo albums, Stacke wants to challenge the stereotypical narrative of conflict defined by the public discourse by visually highlighting its cultural richness from the inside.
Asked by SUNU Journal how these photos communicate a sense of autonomy and identity, Stacke explains that she hopes “they demonstrate complexity, nuance, and reveal a glimpse of the millions of stories to be told.”
“My goal is not to treat the images like pieces of evidence and place them into a perceived history of D.R.C., but to examine what is revealed and suggested through the details in the images as means to better understand the dynamics of the larger cultural and political context.” - Sarah Stacke