Willem de Rooij: Pierre Verger in Suriname

From the early thirties Pierre Verger traveled extensively (Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania) as a press photographer for publications such as Life, Daily Mirror and Paris Match. His interest gradually focused on depicting cultures of the African diaspora in the Americas and the Caribbean. In 1948, Verger spent some time in Surinam, where he made 257 photographs. One group of images was made in and around the capital Paramaribo, portraying the city’s diverse population during a national parade and on the lively central market. A second group of images was made in Wanhatti, in the inland region bordering French Guyana. Here local maroon populations were depicted performing daily activities and during nightly gatherings. The images give a distinct impression of how different groups of people lived in that country at that time. The publication features the entire suite of images, and contextualizing texts that focus on the images, what they depict, but also on the work of Pierre Verger and his particular artistic position. Text: Karin Amatmoekrim, Ayrson Heraclito, Philippe Pirotte, Glorai Wekker