Claire Thomas

行旅全球 | AROUND THE WORLD

A touring exhibition in Taiwan in conjunction with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural and Educational Foundation.

 

Taipei | 台北: February 25th – March 8th, 2022

台北信義新天地A9, 9F: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi Place A9, 9 Floor (address: No. 9, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City)

 

Taichung | 台中: March 12th – 23rd, 2022

台中中港店, 10F, 天空劇場: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang, 10 Floor (address: No.301, Section 3, Taiwan Blvd., Xitun District​, Taichung City)

 

Tainan | 台南:  March 26th – April 6th, 2022

台南新天地 6F C區: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Tainan Place, 6 Floor, Area C (address: 658, Section 1, Ximen Road, Zhongxi District, Tainan City)

 

Claire Thomas’ 行旅全球 | Around the World is an ode to the world and all its inhabitants. From Mongolia to Mozambique, Claire has traveled to over 40 countries, to capture the majesty of the natural world, its animals, and various cultural customs, many of which are threatened by the rapid uptake of technology and climate change.

 

Claire’s images often highlight the symbiotic relationships between humans and animals. She has photographed horse wranglers in Wyoming, USA and the Kazakh eagle hunters in Mongolia who lead a nomadic life herding animals with the aid of trained eagles that hunt game for them. Her far-flung travels have also taken her to world heritage sites such as the distinctive rock formations and ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappadocia in Turkey, and Nzulezu, a village in Ghana built entirely on stilts over Lake Tadane. Both sites are at the mercy of rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions.

 

In a rapidly modernizing world in which age-old traditions and generational customs are being replaced by technological advances, Claire’s images capture ways of life that are becoming increasingly scarce. Her photographs demonstrate the variety and vitality of life on earth and how we can all be stewards of cultural and environmental heritage.

 

Since 2007, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Cultural & Educational Foundation has organized the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Exhibition Events. Over the last ten years, the foundation has focused its efforts on promoting the photographic arts and providing photography lovers with a comprehensive platform for expression. The foundation regularly invites internationally renowned photographers to exhibit their work, creating an inspiring and dynamic international photographic arts exchange.

 

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHY

 

Claire Thomas is an intrepid photojournalist and fine art photographer from Wales, United Kingdom, currently based between London and New York. Growing up near the rural town of Carmarthen, Claire developed an ardent love for horses from an early age. It was this passion that led her to work as a horse wrangler in Wyoming, where she first began taking photographs.

 

A graduate in Politics from the University of the West of England, Claire’s photojournalism work is focused on issues surrounding political and military conflicts, human rights, and humanitarian and environmental crises. From within the refugee camps in Europe to the frontlines of the battle against ISIS in Iraq, Claire has covered a range of stories in various countries, contributing images and photo essays to leading newspapers, magazines, and news agencies worldwide. She is trained in battlefield first aid and surviving hostile environments.

 

Claire’s approach to photography is rooted in her love for storytelling, seeking to reflect the realities of life in a compelling, engaging, and artistic way. In pursuit of powerful and honest imagery, her work seeks to convey a concept or emotion that goes beyond the image itself, providing a deeper insight into the stories and a connection with the subjects.

 

Claire’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Sunday Times, Geographical Magazine, The Guardian, National Geographic Magazine, Greenpeace Magazine, Al Jazeera and Newlines Magazine, among others. She also works regularly with United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations including UNDP, UNHCR, Amnesty International, OXFAM and Save the Children.