Biblical Faces of Ethiopia - Hardcover

by Christine Turnauer (Author), Christine Turnauer (Photographer), Asfa-Wossen Asserate (Text by (Art/Photo Books))

A magnificent photobook exploring the religious origins of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is characterized by a diversity of religions, ethnicities, and languages, with a history dating back to biblical times. Judaism and Christianity have left many traces in the African country. Christine Turnauer traveled to Ethiopia to explore its Jewish and Christian origins and to photograph deeply religious people. The impressive black-and-white images reveal the interest of the photographer and former assistant to Frank Horvat in the spiritual lives of those she portrayed. Sensitivity and empathy as well as mutual trust and respect were important prerequisites for this. Christine Turnauer was a seeker of meaning who looked at the human condition without reservation.

Author Biography

Christine Turnauer (1946-2025) was educated in Austria and in England. In 1971, she moved to Paris and apprenticed to various photographers. From 1974 to 1976, Christine was the assistant to Frank Horvat, and then until 1979 she worked as a freelance photographer in Paris. In 1979, she emigrated to Alberta, in Western Canada, where she pursued various photographic projects, the most important one being the portraits of North-American Native Indian traditional dancers. In 2000, Christine moved back to Europe and, from there, traveled to Japan, Ethiopia, Jerusalem, India, Greece, Turkey, and Mongolia to pursue her photographic work.