Behind the Curtains
Behind the Curtains of 21st Century Communism by Tomas van Houtryve explores contemporary communist societies in North Korea, Cuba, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos and Moldova.
In several nations across the globe, the Communist Party has managed to hold on, mutate and adapt to the 21st century. Whether due to unaddressed class inequality, nostalgia or the steel fist of totalitarianism, these places continue to resist against the tides of history.
Created over seven years, Behind the Curtains demonstrates unprecedented access to current communist countries, where award-winning documentary photographer Tomas van Houtryve discovered a secretive world of revolutionaries, spies, opposition fighters and ordinary workers. His photographs explore the gulf between the high ideals of communism and its complex present day reality.
Foreword by philosopher Tzvetan Todorov.
Awards for the complete Behind the Curtains series:
• POYi World Understanding Award Winner
• POYi Best Photography Book, Finalist
• PBN Photo Book Now, Honorable Mention
• Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Finalist
Awards for photographs from individual chapters of the book:
Chapter 1: Nepal
• Perpignan Young Photographer Award
• Bayeux Prize for War Correspondents
Chapter 2: North Korea
Chapter 4: Moldova
• POYi Third Place Picture Story
Chapter 5: Laos
• Amnesty Human Rights Press Awards
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tomas van Houtryve
FOREWORD AUTHOR: Tzvetan Todorov
FORMAT: Hardcover
PAGES: 288
PUBLISHER: Editions Intervalles (English, French editions) & Benteli (German edition)
PUBLICATION DATE: March 2012
