UBUNTU – Photographic exhibition by André François

“Ubuntu” is a word of African origin that means “I am because we are.” Solidarity, humanity, trust, and support for each other: this is precisely what has filled the lenses of the photographer André François for over a decade, capturing scenes of people in the healthcare universe in Brazil and around the world. The photographer has immersed himself in the subject since 2008, visiting more than 14 countries: from indigenous communities such as the Yanomami in Roraima, Brazil, and the Inuits in Nunavut, Canada, to Japan, China, Bolivia, Cambodia, the United States, Haiti, and all the way to South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

With a focus on raising awareness about the importance of health, education, health promotion, and quality of life through caregiving and the connection between people, François decided to create the photographic documentary UBUNTU, at display now at Sala Brasil. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, he once again went into the field to document the important work of healthcare teams with Brazilian patients. Like the pandemic-related records included in the project, the images show us how interconnected we all are and the importance of this human connection to move forward.