Let’s check out the today at the National Museum, the Collectif Argos photographic journalism exhibition. The Amer Photo Exhibition covers on the fight against exploitation of the oceans, seas for the common good.
Moreover, the photographic is located on the upper second floor (The Platform) of the National Museum of Singapore. Notably, it is the entrance to the Story of the forest gallery at the Museum Rotunda and the World Press photos exhibition we visited earlier this year.
Amer Collectif Argos?
Furthermore, on some background, the Collectif Argos is a French organisation founded in 2001. They bring together journalists, photographers and writers who documents the world and its evolution. Also, it comprises of a group of ten journalists. In covering this exhibition piece, they traveled across the world, meeting coastal people suffering from threats in their waters.
Additionally, the group generally covers areas of cultural, economic, political and ecological nature. Often their findings could be subtle or spectacular, global or local. The photo exhibition is organised by the French Embassy in Singapore. Also, held in conjunction with the current Francophonie Festival in Singapore (2022). The National Museum as a venue partner here at 93 Stamford Road.
Moreover, the “Amer” name exhibition stands for “bitter” in French. The photo exhibition tells the story of people who make their livelihoods by the sea struggling against various environmental and poltical issues.
An easy photographic exhibition
Furthermore, the Amer exhibition galleries covers a general theme of ocean exploitation. It educates on the fight against exploitation of oceans and seas for the common good. Moreover, unlike the more visible land-grabbing and deforestation, ocean exploitation often unseen to the common people. The photo stories cover the invisible world of overfishing, pollution and exploitation, whether mining, industrial or tourism.
An example photo story covers one on exploitation of Fishermen for work. Here, it speaks of their passports confiscated and forced to work on the seas. The regions range from Asian fishing regions in Indonesia and Singapore, to European continents in France, along the Mediterranean, and Atlantic coasts at Gabon, to Oceania regions in Polynesia and even Alaska.
Also, little do these fishermen also know that they are also partially responsible for the issues they face. This includes environmental issues of overfishing. This leads to ocean pollution to wildlife threats from fishing nets, to issues of plastics pollution and micro-plastics harming ocean wildlife.
Global and local stories
Also, the stories share problems of a global scale, affecting the entire planet. After all, the world’s oceans and seas are a major resource source. The seas provide us food, water and even clean air. However, the constant and uncontrolled oceanic exploitation has a devastating effect on our ocean biodiversity and human life.
Also, there is a sad story of Dolphins. Many of them are being accidentally caught by commercial fishing by the thousands annually. Other local stories include one on the research and restoration of Mangrove forests. This is in the name of conservation and natural forms of carbon capture. Thankfully, solutions to these problems do exist, with the intent to make our oceans a better place for a true common good.
Additionally, these photo stories are told through printed posters placed on free-standing stands. You get a coverage of an average of 1-2 big stories per board. Also, these photo stories are illustrated by an array of supporting photos and interviews covering the environmental topic of interests.
All in all, you are good for the Collectif Argos’s Amer exhibition under half an hour. It tells the story of people struggling against plastic pollution, overfishing and exploitation. The exhibition runs for about a month from 20 March to 10 April as part of the 2022 Francophonie festival Amer in Singapore. Entry is free. Do check out the if you happen to be at the Singapore Nation museum galleries.
