Philippe Durant’s portrait photography- Ep 2 Orang Asli

Philippe Durant is a freelance photographer who has lived in fifteen countries and travelled in 30 others. In 2013, he decided to settle in Malaysia. Over the years his passion for photography has evolved and eventually became a full time work five years ago. He has gradually improved in skills and knowledges together with getting better equipment. After seven exhibitions of some his photographs in Khartoum, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Penang and a dozen of talks/sharing sessions, he has started to self-published photography books about places in his host country. He considers himself as a documentary photographer.
“Things change, people go, sometimes they don’t come back, only pictures remains” the quote of Robert Frank is illustrating perfectly his mission as a photographer.
"This episode focuses exclusively on portraits of the Orang Asli, omitting their culture, traditions, history, or current conditions. I visited over twenty settlements and villages across Perak State, on several occasions, spending hours among the indigenous communities. With the assistance of NGOs and local communities, we provided support to families, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the portraits feature children, as adults are often hesitant to be photographed. All images were taken on location and capture candid moments. The only exceptions are photographs of individuals dressed in traditional native costumes as part of a dance group. Even during ceremonies like weddings, traditional attire is no longer commonly worn. Visiting them offers a profound glimpse into a unique aspect of Malaysia."
#portraitphotography #orangasliportraits #orangaslidimalaysia #orangasli #malaysiaindigenous