Congo ─ Majoli Pellegrin

In this sumptuously printed, large-format publication, distinguished Magnum photographers Paolo Pellegrin (born 1964) and Alex Majoli (born 1971) present a collaborative document of the Congo and its people. Bringing together the best of each photographer's personal styles as well as experimental forays into abstraction and collage, this volume captures what Alain Mabanckou describes as a full range of the landscape, "from urban scenes to great forests and back, reflecting the way it is in most African societies today." With no captions or individual photo credits, the densely printed images--presented on full-bleed pages, as gatefolds or as double-spread gatefolds--become wholly immersive. The outcome is a profound study of the Congo, and the resulting object exemplifies the expressive possibilities of contemporary documentary photography. Proceeds of the sale of this book go to Lynx for Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural development programs.