A photographic exhibition by Cape Town-based photographer Gary Van Wyk offers an intimate glimpse into the lives, culture and spiritual traditions of the Huni Kuin people of Brazil’s Amazon. The exhibition, titled Novo Futuro: The Huni Kuin of the Amazon, marks Van Wyk’s first time exhibiting his work. His photographs were created through relationships, trust and shared experiences during a visit to a Huni Kuin village in Acre State, in the Brazilian Amazon.
Van Wyk connected with the Huni Kuin through a mutual friend who invited him to a retreat with the community’s spiritual leaders. He was subsequently invited to visit their village, where he spent close to 12 days. That experience became the foundation for the exhibition, which seeks to share the community’s stories through photographs shaped by the relationships formed during his time there.
The work aims to move beyond formal portraiture, capturing personal moments and the connections between people, their ancestral knowledge and the natural world. Van Wyk said the work was intended as a gift to the people he photographed. He explained that he wanted the photographs to carry the energy and beauty of the Huni Kuin beyond their village, helping audiences recognise the people and their role in protecting nature in the Amazon.
For the Huni Kuin, the forest is more than a home. It is central to their knowledge, culture and spiritual life, a connection reflected throughout Van Wyk’s photographs. The exhibition explores how the community honours its ancestors and maintains its relationship with the natural world. At the opening, Huni Kuin spiritual leader Ninawa Pai da Mata shared traditional music and sacred chants, offering visitors an opportunity to experience elements of the community’s living cultural traditions.
The photographs capture moments of joy, emotion and everyday life, presenting an intimate perspective on the people behind the images. Van Wyk’s approach centres on genuine human connection, with portraits that seek to convey personality and unguarded moments rather than simply document appearances. The exhibition is open to visitors until November 6, 2026.
The Novo Futuro exhibition forms part of Van Wyk’s wider work exploring the relationships between people, place and identity. His previous projects include documenting ORCKA’s conservation initiatives in Namibia and the Nama people of the Richtersveld in the award-winning documentary Out of Mined. His latest work with the Huni Kuin continues this interest in communities, their environments and the stories they share.
Through photography, Van Wyk seeks to bring those stories to wider audiences while maintaining respect for the people who entrust him with them. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity for audiences to engage with the Huni Kuin people and their culture, and to learn about the importance of preserving their way of life.
Key points
- The exhibition "Novo Futuro: The Huni Kuin of the Amazon" showcases the culture and traditions of the Huni Kuin people of Brazil's Amazon.
- Gary Van Wyk's photographs aim to convey the personality and unguarded moments of the Huni Kuin people.
- The exhibition is open to visitors until November 6, 2026.
