Open Theme 2nd place winner

The Ghetto Tarot is a photographic interpretation of the traditional tarot deck in the ghetto. The scenes are inspired by the Rider Waite Tarot deck (originally designed in 1909 by Pamela Colman Smith) and are replicated together with a group of Haitian artists called Atis Rezistans (resistant artists) in the slums using only material we were able to find or create locally.
Our idea behind choosing the term "Ghetto" as a name for the deck, is to have people question their own assumptions about what the ghetto really is and to change the often negative connotation that the word implies in our culture into a positive one.

Our objective is to highlight the creativity and strength of the citizens of the Ghetto and we are certain that inside of them lays a treasure of innovative ideas to dissolve the circle of dependence and victimization, that will break through if the world starts looking at their skills and capacities instead of their deficiencies. That plays an important part of the objective behind the photographies of the "Ghetto Tarot": reaching beyond cultural walls of prejudice and ignorance to achieve a much needed transformation of the collective conscience perception of the Ghetto.

Alice.

Photographer. Journalist. Filmmaker. Artist. Project Manager. Teacher. Student. Weddingphotojournalist. Traveler.

There isn’t just one word to describe what I’m doing. I am a free spirit. I follow my heart and make my dreams and ideas come true. All in the pursuit of opening people’s eyes to what’s really happening in our world and at the same time exposing the beauty so that change can happen.

I was lucky to assist one of the greatest photojournalists of the last century, Philip Jones Griffiths, who taught me valuable lessons about photography and life.

Since 2007 I have been traveling to and living in Haiti to document the country and its people with my camera and learn about the human race through observation.

In 2010 I co-founded a non-profit organization called Viv Timoun with projects in Haiti. Infos at www.vivtimoun.org

Recently I directed my first documentary “AIDependence” demonstrating the negative influence of the aid industry on the Haitian population using Haiti as an example for the happenings of most developing countries. Infos at www.aidependence.com

Awards:
Unicef Photo of the year 2008
3rth price POYi for Multimedia Portfolio 2011
Canon Profifoto Foerderpreis 01/08