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Museum aan het Vrijthof in Maastricht presents a retrospective exhibition of photographer Jimmy Nelson from 26 September 2019 until 15 March 2020. The exhibition ‘Homage to Humanity’ offers an extensive and colorful selection of portraits of indigenous cultures from around the globe. The festive opening of this exhibition is the official fresh start of Museum aan het Vrijthof as a new and specialized museum for photography in the south of the Netherlands.

The English-Dutch photographer is internationally known for his iconic books ‘Before They Pass Away’ (2013) and ‘Homage to Humanity’ (2018). For years, he has been travelling all over the world to portray the purity and traditional appearances of unique communities in the most remote places. With his pervasive photos and the Jimmy Nelson Foundation he wants to generate appreciation for cultural diversity and the extent to which it is threatened by advancing technology and globalization.

The exhibition is Jimmy Nelson’s largest museum exhibition in the Netherlands so far. More than forty photographs can be seen in the monumental museum, including work that has never been shown before. In addition, supporting videos, books and travel stories are presented. Visitors are invited to go on a journey with the photographer to discover the most secluded places and unique cultures in the world. Questions like ”What is wealth?”, but also ”Where do we originate from?” and ”Where are we going?” play an integral role in the exhibition.

Jimmy Nelson (Sevenoaks, 1967) lived in Africa and Asia during his youth. He has worked as a photographer for over thirty years and exhibits in museums and galleries worldwide. He is also much in demand as a speaker for lectures and presentations. The autonomous work of the artist is frequently published in leading media and has been presented at art and photography fairs such as PAN Amsterdam, Paris Photo, Scope Basel and TEFAF Maastricht.