Photography Exhibition: Move by Oliver Lynton
4 Vesey Path
The Turkana people of northern Kenya are being gradually forced from their nomadic lands. Thousands have and continue to relocate to slum settlements on the outskirts of Kenyan towns. It is a mismarriage of cultures leaving the newcomers little option but accept menial jobs, scavenge, beg and even steal. Alcoholism and glue sniffing are endemic and life is often short. Kipsongo slum has a population of about 14,000 people living on the old municipal dump on the outskirts of Kitale in the North Rift Valley region of Kenya. Packed onto a plot of 6.5 acres (roughly 3 football pitches) the people, mostly Turkana, live in very overcrowded conditions compounding a sense of futility, alien to them from their previously nomadic existence. I worked directly and indirectly with the people of Kipsongo for over 14 years and have developed a great warmth and respect for them. ‘Moved’ is a selection of portraits shot in Kipsongo in late 2016. I asked the residents to bring something or someone they loved. It is the start of a long story.
Oliver Lynton: I have re-entered the world of photography after spending a couple of decades working with vulnerable people in both Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Principally a documentary photographer my style can be loosely defined as street, travel and portraiture. Much of my work has been for charity and I am a passionate about Human Rights. Publications include: Time Out, Black & White Photography Magazine and Red Pepper. Commissions include: Child Rescue Kenya, Zaytoun (Palestine), Roman Road Trust, International Childcare Trust and Carers Lewisham Formal training: Image Capture & Photojournalism (City & Guilds) + Short Film Creation (St Martins). I am lucky enough to be an experienced traveller, speak several languages and am always up for a challenge.