Fotografická výstava Stratený raj / Paradise Lost

In the stormy year of 1969, 13 students from the University of California at Berkeley came to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Repressive forces brutally suppressed their protests against the war in Vietnam on campus, leaving them with no choice but to take up arms or leave. They were soon arrested in Hawaii for "vagrancy" and sentenced to 90 days of forced labor. When Howard Taylor, the brother of the famous American actress Elizabeth, found out about it in the local newspaper, he paid the bail for them and invited the group of students to his beautiful property on the beach.

The untouched place has become a magnet for surfers, students and Vietnam veterans looking for peace. At its peak, the community had more than 130 inhabitants. They lived in tree houses, grew their own food and spent their free time surfing or playing beach volleyball. They lived their dream without government and laws, yet they were united by one thing - the desire for freedom. The phenomenon called Taylor Camp, like the Woodstock music festival, became a symbol of a time full of revolution.

The life of the community was captured in more than 50 photographs by the American photographer John Wehrheim. The photographic collection became the most comprehensive documentation of this utopian settlement. Four decades later, the author published a book of photographs called Taylor Camp and made a documentary film called On the Threshold of Paradise (2018). The curator of the exhibition is Adam Ligas, who lived on the Hawaiian Islands for two years.

,,The only true paradise is the lost paradise.”

The exhibition is realized thanks to the financial support of the Bubo travel agency.

WEB: https://danubiana.sk/vystavy/strateny-raj

ACCOMPANIMENT PROGRAM:
27.10., 17:00 Považská Bystrica, KC Cooltajner
Screening and discussion with the participation of the author, former Hawaiian mayor and curator

28.10., 17:00 Žilina, KC Stanica-Záriečie
Screening and discussion with the participation of the author, former Hawaiian mayor and curator

October 29, 18:00 Bratislava, STU
Screening and discussion for participation of the author, former Hawaiian mayor and curator


ENG: In the turbulent year of 1969, 13 students from the University of California at Berkeley arrived on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Repressive forces brutally suppressed their protests against the Vietnam War on campus, leaving them with no choice but to take up arms or leave. They were soon arrested in Hawaii for "vagrancy" and sentenced to 90 days of hard labor. When Howard Taylor, brother of the famous American actress Elizabeth, heard about this in the local newspaper, he posted bail for them and invited the group of students to his beautiful beachfront land.
The pristine spot became a magnet for surfers, students or Vietnam veterans looking for peace. At its heyday, the community had more than 130 residents. They lived in tree houses, grew their own food, and filled their free time with surfing or playing beach volleyball. They lived their dream without government or laws, yet they had one thing in common - a desire for freedom.

The phenomenon called Taylor Camp, like the Woodstock music festival, became a symbol of an era full of revolution. However, a utopia based on human ideals and harmonious coexistence with nature ended in flames in 1977. American photographer John Wehrheim captured the life of the community in more than 50 photographs. The photographic collection has become the most comprehensive documentation of this utopian settlement. Four decades later, the author published a book of photographs called Taylor Camp and made a documentary film called On the Edge of Paradise (2018). The exhibition is curated by Adam Ligas, who spent two years in the Hawaiian Islands.

,,The only true paradise is a paradise lost.”

The exhibition is realized thanks to financial support of Slovak travel agency Bubo.

WEB: https://danubiana.sk/en /vystavy/strateny-raj

PROGRAMME:
27.10., 17:00 Považská Bystrica, KC Cooltajner
Screening and Q/A, with author, former mayor of Kauai island and curator

28.10., 17:00 Žilina, KC Stanica-Záriečie
Screening and Q/A, with author, former mayor of Kauai island and curator
< br/>29.10., 18:00 Bratislava, STU
Screening and Q/A, with author, former mayor of Kauai island and curator