Films and photographs can show a place. A conversation can go further.
My talks grew naturally from the stories I brought back from Namibia — about people, everyday life, cultural differences and the things that rarely fit into a film or photograph.
The idea did not begin with me.
My daughter suggested that some of my experiences from Namibia deserved more than films and photographs — that they should also become conversations with people.
That simple suggestion led to my first small talk at ZST in Wodzisław Śląski.
Later came an invitation from the University of Silesia in Katowice — the moment when I realised these stories could work just as strongly in a room as they did on screen.
Another meeting followed with Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Ziemi Gliwickiej.
Live meetings also allow for something public films rarely do: more context. Some photographs, stories and everyday moments are simply better shared in a room than published on the internet.
The subjects depend on the audience, but they usually grow from the same place: real experiences, real people and the questions that appeared along the way.
Topics may include:
I do not present myself as someone who has all the answers.
I prefer to share what I have seen, what I have learned, what surprised me — and sometimes what I still do not fully understand.
The next step is to develop these meetings together with Ivondia.
Her perspective is shaped by Namibia and her roots in Great Kunene, while mine comes from discovering the country from the outside.
We do not always see the same things in the same way. That is precisely what makes the conversation interesting.
Talks can be adapted to different audiences — from schools and universities to cultural institutions and other organisations.
