Spotlight: Careful with the Television, Please


A man carries a television on his back in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Photographer: Bruno Barbey
Date: 1964

In the midst of turbulent years for the Arab state of Kuwait, this scene reminds us that life cannot and will not stand still. People must breathe, eat, sleep, experience the infinite breadth of emotion, relax, play. Life must go on. There are things to do — and programs to watch.

Bruno Barbey was a highly accomplished Moroccan-French photographer. Recognized for his work documenting conflict zones in many parts of world, he chose not to define himself as a war photographer but as a photographer invested in documenting culture and social change.

His non-conflict-related work is just as expansive, including efforts in China, Portugal, and Turkey. His work in Morocco, which is how I first learned of him, is colorful and striking. He has published numerous collections although the majority of these publications are out-of-print and exceedingly difficult to find.