Cherie Richardson’s exhibition of recent photographs in the West Gallery of the Masterworks Foundation documents a pilgrimage to Ethiopia.

The exhibition, in fact, has a documentary feel about it, although several photographs may also be said to be art photography.

The exhibition consists of 38 photographs, many of which depict various aspects of Ethiopian spiritual life, as well as every-day living. The exhibition opened on Friday, October 27 and closes on November 27.

It is entitled “In The Spirit of Ethiopia”.

I first came across the art of Cherie Richardson in the Bermuda National Gallery’s 2000 Biennial, but at that time she was represented by a painting. When I heard that she was having a show at the Masterworks Foundation, I naturally assumed that it would be an exhibition of paintings and was surprised to discover that she was showing photographs.

From the start it was apparent that this exhibition was about a journey and that the photographs are a kind of visual journal of that pilgrimage.

Most of the photographs are matter of fact in appearance. As such they proved to be a visual time bomb that eventually went off in my head, resulting in the need to once again revisit the show.

This came from the realisation that there is a lot going on in these pictures that I had overlooked on my first pass. As I “walked the walls”, I found myself getting caught up in Ethiopia life; when I returned for the actual opening and then encountered Ethiopian food, as well — that for me was a rich experience indeed.

Several photographs stand out in this show. One is of a “Young Priest”. It is a strong portrait of an intense young man, the kind of head that sticks in ones brain.

Another picture depicts a different young priest at the cross during the Timket celebration. This is the celebration of Epiphany, which is the most important and colourful event in the spiritual calendar of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Another memorable portrait is of Abba Paulus, Patriarch of the Ethiopean Orthodox Church.

I understand that during Ms Richardson’s three-week journey to Ethiopia, she took about a thousand photographs.

This exhibition, therefore, represents only a small fraction of the total. I hope that in the near future, she will be exhibiting more of what she recorded during her travels, for this exhibition has increased my interest in Ethiopia and I would like to see more of Ethiopia through her photographs.