RHODRI JONES IN CONVERSATION WITH EMYR YOUNG
ABERYSTWYTH, WEST WALES, OCTOBER 2016RHODRI JONES YN SGWRSIO GYDAG EMYR YOUNG
ABERYSTWYTH, CEREDIGION, Hydref 2016
Rhodri Jones speaking with Eamonn McCabe at the EYE International Photography Festival 2016
Rhodri Jones speaking with Eamonn McCabe at the EYE International Photography Festival 2016
Rhodri Jones, born in Gwynedd, Wales, has been based near Bologna, Italy since 2000.
He has worked as a professional photographer on both personal and commissioned projects around the globe since 1989 and has had five personal photographic volumes published; Made in China (Logos Art, Italy 2002), Return/Yn ôl (Seren, Wales 2006), Hinterland (L’Artiere Edizioni, Italy 2010), Scambi Ferroviari (L’Artiere Edizioni, Italy 2011) and COSÌ È (L’Artiere Edizioni, Italy 2015).
Described by Magnum photographer, Philip Jones Griffiths as “a Welsh poet with a camera”, Rhodri has exhibited in China, Eire, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, UK and USA. Distributed by Panos Pictures since 1992, his images have been used by leading magazines, newspapers, NGOs and publishers worldwide. His work is held in several public and private collections.
Ffoton had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Rhodri in Aberystwyth at the 2016 EYE International Photography Festival.
Cafodd Rhodri Jones ei eni yng Ngwynedd Cymru ond ers 2000 mae'n byw yn Bologna yn yr Eidal
Mae Rhodri wedi gweithio fel ffotograffydd proffesiynol ers 1989 ac wedi cyhoeddi pum cyfrol ffotograffig bersonol. Made in China (Logos Art, Yr Eidal 2002), Return/Yn ôl (Seren, Cymru 2006), Hinterland (L’Artiere Edizioni, Yr Eidal 2010), Scambi Ferroviari (L’Artiere Edizioni, Yr Eidal 2011) a COSÌ È (L’Artiere Edizioni, Yr Eidal 2015).
Cafodd glod gan Philip Jones Griffiths a'i disgrifiodd fel "a Welsh poet with a camera" Mae Rhodri wedi arddangos ei waith yn Tseina, Iwerddon, Ffrainc, Groeg, Yr Eidal, Yr Iseldiroedd, Gwlad Pwyl, Y DU a’r Unol Daleithiau ac mae ei waith wedi ei ddosbarthu gan asiantaeth Panos Pictures ers 1992 a'u cyhoeddi mewn cylchgronau, papurau newydd a chyrff anllywodraethol. Y mae ei waith ar gof a chadw mewn casgliadau cyhoeddus a phreifat.
Cawsom y fraint o gwrdd a sgwrsio gyda Rhodri yng Ngwyl Rhyngwladol yr Eye Aberystwyth 2016.
Rhodri Jones describes his start with the respected independent photography agency Panos Pictures and the agency landscape currently.
Rhodri Jones discusses contemporary Italian photography and the Political situation in Europe (at October 2016).
See below for a small selection of Rhodri's work, reproduced here on Ffoton with kind permission of the photographer.
Yma ar Ffoton trwy garedigrwydd y ffotograffydd fe welwch gasgliad bychan o'i waith isod.
Just before he was due to return to Albania for the first time after an exile of 46 years, the poet and dissident, Martin Camaj died in Munchen, Bavaria, where he had been Professor of Albanian studies. His body was buried in Lengries, Germany, however the locals wanted to show their respects by holding a traditional funeral ceremony - clothes were taken from various households and to replace his head they used a photo of him aged 18 and books that had been banned under the Hoxha regime. The Gjemma during the funeral ceremony held in honour of Martin Camaj, at his family home, Telume village. From the Albanian project “Land of the Living Past”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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A young man cleans his prize possession; a Chinese automatic rifle. Every family has at least one firearm in the home. The 'Kanun' says that that all men of age should have the right to bare arms. In fact the gun was the only possession a man could buy and sell without the head of the family's permission. Malagji village. From the Albanian project “Land of the Living Past”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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The mountain men, being renowned for their courage have always hired out their services as soldiers or mercenaries. Bardhok was a young army officer shot by deserters in 1997. The women crying around his body are not relatives, only those outside the family may openly show their emotions at a traditional funeral. Kajval village. From the Albanian project “Land of the Living Past”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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The woman of the household lights the fire early in the morning. Palaj village. From the Albanian project “Land of the Living Past”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Land Use Triptych. (Left) Forestry Commission woods near Maentwrog, North Wales. Since WW I large areas of Wales have similar plantations. (Centre) One of many reservoirs in Wales, Trywerin, was built in the sixties to provide water for Liverpool, causing big protests as it involved forcing a Welsh speaking community to move. The city of Liverpool only recently apologized for its actions. (Right) Sheep on Moel Wnion, North Wales, there are still approx 15 million sheep in Wales (population 2.9 Million). From the Welsh project, “Yn Ôl / Return”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Steel Press at historical steel works site, Blaenafon, South Wales. Wales was one of the first countries to be heavily industrialized as it had both coal and iron. The social traumas of industrialization from the late 18th Cen and de-industrialization from the late 20th C have been huge. From the Welsh project, “Yn Ôl / Return”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Street scene during the “International Brecon Jazz Festival”. Mid Wales. From the Welsh project, “Yn Ôl / Return”.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Miao peasant in Eastern Guizhou Province which remains one of the poorest and most backward in China today (one third of the population live below the national poverty line, 70% are illiterate and 50% of the villages are not accessible by road). Much to the frustration of local authorities the Miao remain largely self-sufficient and show little interest in assimilation with the Han through discarding their cultural identity. From the “Minorities in China” project.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Uighur Father and son in the “Chulan” (Cherry) resettlement community. The government hope to move 30,000 “volunteers” to the site that is part of a desert reclamation scheme in southern Xinjiang. The only water supply has its source at a distance of over 600km and passes through several similar communities (which also use it for domestic consumption, irrigation and sewerage) before arriving to “Chulan”. There are also many military camps in this area, which remains closed to all those without permits. From the “Minorities in China” project.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Designer home, Vleuten, Utrecht, The Netherlands. From the “Europe’s New Edgelands” project.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Commercial buildings in Noain near Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. From the “Europe’s New Edgelands” project.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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Publicity hoardings, Mauguio near Montpellier, France. From the “Europe’s New Edgelands” project.
Image © Rhodri Jones
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View more of Rhodri's work on his website www.rhodrijones.com
On Panos Pictures www.panos.co.uk
Gallery images © Rhodri Jones. Used with permission of the photographer.
Podcast images © Brian Carroll. Video © Ffoton
Links from this conversation:
Edith Durham (Wikipedia entry)
Albania's Mountain Queen: Edith Durham and the Balkans (Book review)
Philip Jones Griffiths (Magnum)
Nicaraguan Contras (Wikipedia entry)
Return / Yn Ôl (Seren Books)
Hinterland (L'Artiere)
COSÌ È (L'Artiere)
Please note: Comments or views made by interview participants are their own and are NOT necessarily the views of the Ffoton Wales team.
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