‘Jürgen Escher’s photographic theme, the leitmotif of his work, is, in his words, the dignity and sanctity of human life. He works as a photographer mainly in the countries of the ‘Third World’ – in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

His main works show not so much the exceptional situation, but everyday life in remote areas of Indian, African, Asian or European ways of life. Nevertheless, they are often crisis situations. In his photographic work, Escher focusses on the people and their way of life. He lives with them, for weeks and months if possible. ‘None of my pictures,’ he says, ’were taken without the consent of the people photographed.’

Escher’s pictures avoid the sensational as well as the European attitude of pity or ethnographic curiosity. His images of people radiate the naturalness and self-confidence of people who live differently from us – but that doesn’t necessarily make them worse. ‘As a photographer,’ says Escher, ’I feel committed to the tradition of socially engaged photography. From the very beginning, this photography was aimed at bringing about change.’ Change in Escher’s sense here means at least partially correcting the damage caused to these cultures by the invasion of Western civilisation and a misunderstood Christianity. As a result, many of his paintings are commissioned by socially committed and church organisations.’

(From: ‘One World’ text excerpt by Jörg Boström)

Escher has been working for Cap Anamur – Deutsche Not-Ärzte e.V. for over 30 years now.

www.juergenescher.de