Kamp langs Lawaspoorlijn 1905 - 1910

Augusta Curiel made this photograph, Kamp langs Lawaspoorlijn, using black and white photography. The visual impact relies on the contrast between the natural and the constructed. The rough-hewn wooden buildings with their thatched roofs speak to local materials and building techniques. The image captures a moment in time, seemingly untouched. But right alongside this settlement run the rails of the Lawa railway. These were fabricated through industrial processes, and were intended to move resources through the landscape. The railway represents a system of extraction. Curiel's choice to document this juxtaposition invites us to consider the impact of industrial progress on traditional ways of life, and the way labor and landscape were intertwined in colonial contexts. Ultimately, the photograph is a potent reminder of the complex relationship between industry, culture, and the natural world. It challenges us to consider the human cost of progress and the importance of preserving cultural heritage in the face of rapid change.