Alfred W. Djami

Born 1985, Kupang, West Timor

I am a husband, freelance photographer and farmer living in Atambua City, Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. This part of Indonesia directly borders Timor Leste. I started practicing photography and journalism in 2003–2011, when volunteering at a social institution focused on refugee issues in West Timor. I studied photography through communities in Kupang and Jogja. Later I joined a cultural community and became close to indigenous community groups. These spaces are gateways to knowledge of traditions, history, the environment, the history of socio-political conflicts and socio-cultural relations between West Timor and Timor Leste. Realizing that culture has a holistic connection with the environment and the universe, I also studied Permaculture and began farming. These are things that enrich awareness - a visual perspective in seeing the relationship between the environment, humans and the universe as a living ecosystem. My ongoing projects record history, cultural traditions, the environment and their relationship with daily life on Timor: my theme is Timor Observer. The series of portraits of weavers, Weaving Yang Menuh, is part of it. I also document daily life with my wife, sentimental personal moments. We are of different nationalities. This project is Sentimental Days.