Kyle’s solo exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Namibia wowed Namibian audiences and his unique talent is in hot demand, especially after the prestigious Magnum Photography Award he received in 2016.
As a parting remark, the talented young photographer offered: “I have to often remind myself to enjoy the journey. Artists in general are very quick to compare themselves to others, and I think comparison is the thief of joy. I have had to teach myself that.”
“It’s one of the biggest photography competitions in the world. I entered the work I did on the collection of Palm Wine Collectors, and won first prize for the Fine Art category. That’s hugely propelled my career. In the past month I have received emails from around the world, from The New York Times and other amazing publications that want to feature my work.” Kyle’s latest exhibition, Palm Wine Collectors, materialised after he returned to the Kunene Region to give each man he had photographed a print of the image he had taken of them, along with a thank-you note in their mother tongue. Kyle was invited to photograph a traditional practice, which shows the age-old but illegal Himba custom of milking the Makalani palms. This has become a controversial practice as Makalani palms are protected in Namibia for conservation purposes. Milking the palms has nevertheless been part of Himba culture for centuries, and the Himba believe it does not cause damage to the plant species as only older palms are milked. The event provided Kyle not only a unique photographic opportunity, but also a unique perspective on the difficulties involved in keeping a traditional culture alive in modern times.
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