State of emergency by Max Pinckers
Signed copies
State of Emergency interweaves fragmentary colonial archives, photographs of architectural and symbolic remnants from the past, mass grave sites, demonstrations and the testimonies of people who experienced and survived the war themselves.M.P
Max Pinckers got involved in the project as part of his exploration into how photographs can represent historical truths. He focused on the Mau Mau archives to understand how the British colonial authorities used photography as a tool of imperial control. Pinckers’ work in this area involved creating images that reflect on the nature of colonial photographic practices and their impact on the historical narrative of the Mau Mau uprising.
focuses on a documentary project that explores the British colonial administration's manipulation of archives related to Kenya's Mau Mau uprising during the 1950s. Known as Operation Legacy, this initiative involved the destruction, concealment, and distortion of documents to control the historical narrative. The article discusses the recovery of these documents and their role in revisiting the Mau Mau's fight for independence through the eyes of survivors and veterans. It highlights how these archives have been used to address historical injustices and narrate a more accurate version of Kenya's colonial past.
