On 

location Painting by Simon Bird
To promote the use of art for raising awareness about the developing world

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...updated 24th May 2009

Mosou Culture China 2009
By Simon & Katerina

Hi, I am currently in South West China with Katerina studing the last matriachal society for our Matriarchal project. We have come to Lugo Lake, the home of the Mosou People, on the border of Yunnan, Sichuan and former Tibetan. Our stay here will be for 2 months...

We hope to complete a series of paintings with the local people to investigating whether the culture will survive the influence of Modern Patriarchal China ?

We also plan to make an animated project with women and children, using the pictures they have painted.

Karamoja

Karamoja Tribe, Uganda. 2007 & 2008
By Simon

Animated Documentary Film: Karamoja Faces 2008/09

From November to March I have been creating a partially animated documentary film about Karamojong women who go to the city to beg with children and babies.

During my previous visits to Uganda in 2006/7, I was researching the general plight of the Karamojong in the capital 'Kampala' and in the arid conflict stricken Karamojaland. The issue of karamoja women using children and babies as objects for begging is one of the most compelling stories that I have seen.

Article: Removing Karamojong for CHOGM. 2007

Business initiative: Karamoja Design

Matriarchal Project. 2005 to 2008 khasi girl with parot
(Disappearing Matriarchal Cultures of the World)
by Simon & Katerina

This is a project to highlight the last societies on the planet that have naturally placed women as equals or even leaders, without them having to fight for their rights.
- Will these societies be able to survive the onslaught of modernization?

Khasi & Garo (India), Minangkobau (Sumatra), Zapotec (Mexico), Kuna (Panama), Mosuo and Pi (China).

scary-gypsy

Slovakian Gypsies. 2006 & 2008
By Simon Bird

In May 2008 I made a return trip to the Slovak Gypsy Villages, to see how things had changed.
On my first visit in 2006 I found settlements with no electricity, running water or sanitation.

Article: Slovak Gypsies revisited. 2008

Chodov,Prague.

Czech Panelák flats. 2006 & 2008
(The last big standing structures of the Communist era)
By Simon Bird

This year I returned to Prague, drawn back by the power of the Panelák flats. From winter through to summer in 2006, I was capturing scenes of everyday life around these minimalist blocks of flats.

The Panama and 

Suez canals

The Panama and Suez Canal 2005
By Simon Bird

Lazing around watching enormous Tankers drift past on the Panama Canal, and then, on a different trip, relaxing in Port Said on the Suez Canal spoting the ships heading South to the Gulf.

Mummy meets the Romans

Mummy, Monster or Pharaoh. 2004
By Simon Bird

During a 1 month trip to Egypt I became obsessed with the Mummy !

TravelArtist / About

Simon Bird
Katerina Karaskova
Matriarchal Project

Simon Bird
simoncbird@hotmail.com
Home / About

Uganda
Karamojaland Uganda 2007/8
Film: 'Karamoja Faces' 2008/9
Article: Karamoja CHOGM 2007
Czech Rep. & Slovakia
SlovakGypsies 2006/8
Article: Gyspies revisited 2008
Czech Panelák flats 2006/8
Central America
Panama & Suez Canal 2005
Mosquito Coast 2003
Egypt
Monster or Mummy 2004
Asia
Yunnan & Szechwan 2000
Cambodia mines & monks 2001
Vietnam central & North 2000
Laos & Thailand 2000
Southern Africa
The coast of Mozambique 1998
The highlands of Lesotho 1998
South America
Altiplano in Peru & Bolivia 1996
India
India & Ladahk 1994/7

Matriarchal Project
by Simon & Kateřina
Home / About

North East India.
Khasi culture 2008
Notes: Khasi Hills
Garo culture 2008
Notes: Garo Hills
Sumatra, Indonesia.
Minangkobau culture 2008
Notes: Minang area
South West Mexico.
Zapotec culture 2005
Notes: Tehuantepec
Southern Panama.
Kuna culture 2005
Notes: Sanblas Islands

Karamoja-Design
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Uganda

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