BEYOND THE POSTCARD 

 The Caribbean is often reduced to a series of idyllic images: turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and colorful colonial facades. But beyond these polished postcards lies a more complex and nuanced reality—one shaped by history, resilience, and overlooked narratives.  

  My journey began in Guadeloupe, a place that—despite its political ties to France—shares many of the same struggles as its independent neighbors. Walking through its streets, I witnessed stark contrasts: government buildings meticulously maintained while everyday spaces fall into decay, vibrant communities existing in the shadow of economic neglect. I arrived with a Westernised vision of what the island would be, only to realise that Guadeloupe, like much of the Caribbean, is shaped by histories of resilience, displacement, and survival.  

This project is also a reflection on the absence of Caribbean photographic archives. Unlike in parts of West Africa, where photographers such as Malick Sidibé and James Barnor documented post-independence life, the Caribbean’s visual history remains largely shaped by outsiders. Through my images, I hope to contribute to a narrative created from within—to capture the soul of these islands as they are lived, rather than as they are sold to the world.

As I expand this project across different islands, my goal is to build a photographic series that goes beyond the postcard image—to create a space where the Caribbean is seen in its full complexity, beyond the clichés, beyond the myths, and beyond the frame imposed upon it.