The Anglo-Ethiopian Society
Lecture - Hierotopia - Ethiopia's Holy Forests
Kieran Dodds
Wednesday 26th February 2020
7:00pm, Ethiopian Community in Britain, 2a Lithos Road, London NW3 6EF - Public lecture (all welcome)
Northern Ethiopia has lost almost all its original forest cover, but scattered across the landscape are small islands of woodland, each protected by the church at its centre. No one may till the soil in these holy places, or fell the trees.
Scottish photographer Kieran Dodds was enchanted by these holy woodlands. He wrote, "I wanted to convey this sense of wonder when I went traveling from this dry, hot, noiseless, man-altered landscape into this other world, humid and full of fragrance and noisy wildlife. Whatever the ugliness and barrenness of the outside world, I wanted people to experience, almost taste, this incredible realm you venture into."
Kieran's series of photographs of the churches and their forests, entitled Hierotopia, took third place in the professional category of the 2019 Sony World Photography awards.
They include dramatic aerial views, taken using a drone, as well as intimate views at ground level.
He will be showing us some of his work, and talking about the church forests and their ecological importance.
Doors will open at 6:00pm with complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits available. Capacity at the venue is limited, so please reserve your place soon to avoid disappointment.