When photographer Nico Sepe moved to Plymouth from the Philippines three years ago, he started to look for parallels between the two places. The result is a series of photos which go on display in his first UK exhibition at the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth from 8 May - 22 June 2007.
 | | Parallel photo: this one was taken in Plymouth |
Nico explains that the exhibition - entitled Parallels - is an attempt to find the harmonies between the two places. The way he has done this is to picture scenes which merge gracefully, despite the differences in culture. An example are the two images on this page. Nico, who is well known in the Philippines, said: "The idea of Parallels came to mind soon after I moved with my family to Plymouth from the Philippines three years ago. "Everything was new to me - the sights, the sounds, even the light was different. I found myself looking for things familiar, things that I could relate to, things that would bring the comfort of my home, things that were in common with where I was now and where I had come from." Nico was born in the Philippines in 1963, becoming a self-taught photographer at the age of 16 because of major influences around him.
 | | Nico Sepe, armed with his camera |
He documented lives in the underground movement during the latter years of the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines during the 1980s. Since then, Nico has contributed towards documenting the social and political changes in the Philippines, and some projects have been life-threatening. Catharine Chapman from the Barbican Theatre said: "We are really proud that Nico, a significant figure in Philippino photography, has chosen the Barbican Theatre to exhibit his photographs for the first time in the UK. "These beautifully constructed images of his native country and Plymouth, his new home, illustrate really well the differences and similarities between the two countries." The photos are on show in the exhibition space at the Barbican Theatre. For information, contact the Barbican box office on 01752 267131. Nico Sepe: Parallels
Barbican Theatre
8 May - 22 June 2007
Contact: 01752 267131
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