Images of Africa

Press, 29 June 1988, Page 20

Images of Africa

“With a camera in my hand I feel I can go anywhere and talk to anyone.” These are the words of a South African-born photographer, Miriam Millner, who has 28 colour photographs on display at the Christchurch Public Library from July 6 to 25. She has lived in New Zealand for the last 11 years but still misses the Africa she knew. She returned for a visit recently. “I wanted to show

Hugh, my special New Zealand friend, the Africa that I know,” she says. “I wanted to take him into the houses of the people, wanted him to see first-hand how they lived, worked and felt. “New Zealand has been my home for 11 years but I still miss the people of Africa. I miss the diversity, their vitality, marvellous sense of humour, friendliness and pride which Hugh was able to experience. “The people in my

photographs are ordinary people who want to get on with their daily lives. They are a worried people, worried about the present and what the future will hold for their children. They wanted to be treated decently, fairly, and with dignity, but they fear the violence that they are told will bring about change.” The photographs in the exhibition were taken in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. She has called the exhibition “Faces of Afrika.”