Yangon Zoo

• Photographer
  Francoise Holtzmacher
• Website
  https://www.otherpix.com

The Yangon Zoological Gardens and Parks offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The oldest zoo in Myanmar, established in 1901 in honour of Queen Victoria, boasts rare and endangered animal species as well as rich flora over several sprawling acres. Many animals were moved to the zoo in the new capital Naypyidaw in 2008, leaving behind numerous empty cages. Most of the still, almost listless animals are kept in often narrow cages. A heavy sense of sadness, absurdity, and abandon pervades the park. Today one can't help but question the relevance of zoos, not only in Myanmar but everywhere else. Albert Camus' extract from his Literature Nobel Prize winning speech in 1957 finds strong resonance when we look at the captive animals: "I have never been able to renounce the light, the pleasure of being, and the freedom in which I grew up."

• Biography
  I am a Belgian freelance photographer currently based and working in Sydney. I work on a diverse range of subjects dealing with documentary photography, street photography, fine art, and photojournalism.
• Awards
  Member of the Jury of the Monochrome Photography Awards "Felix the Dancer" featured on the LENSCULTURE Portrait Awards 2018 competition gallery, January Honorable mention in the ND Awards Photo Contest, Category Nature Featured in the editors' gallery of the LENSCULTURE Emerging Talent Awards 2017, October "Shark Attack" won the 2nd prize of the WIPPLAY Underwater contest, September "Mothers Courage and their Children" project featured on Edge of Humanity Magazine, August Picture selected for the Clique June People's Choice Award. "Marie&Charlotte" photograph featured in the LENSCULTURE Portrait Awards 2017 Competition Gallery "Phycology" series featured on the curated LENSCULTURE NETWORK, January Laureate and featured in magazine PHOTO, Le plus grand concours du monde 2016, category “Reportage”, issue nbr 529, France, January-February 2017 photo.fr