People's Desire

People s Desire (July 2010, Visuals Press) is a unique book of photography. It is unique as the author had rather unprecedented access to the secretive country of Burma (Myanmar) throughout the last decade. As a photographer, he was mesmerized with how the everyday people of that troubled country coped with everyday life. Despite the grinding poverty and hideously oppressive military rule, people try to live their lives with grace, laughter, and compassion. Despite its fitful launch into the modern world, Burma is still a deeply traditional Buddhist country. People crave individual liberties, self-expression, modern consumer goods as well as freedom that comes from being beyond desires of worldly aspiration. People s Desire examines the tension between these two seemingly contradictory perspectives. Contrasts between traditional and modern life also are experienced in the striking disparity between country and urban life, and between the traditional Buddhist monkhood (sangha) and lay Burmese individuals who are increasingly interested in popular global culture. Book format is 8¼ x 9¾ in, high quality paper and printing (116 black/white duotone prints) further identifies this book as a photography-as-art book.