Steve McCurry on the Making of Devotion: an Interview with Marius Kwint

1st November 2023

Join renowned American photographer and Magnum Photos member, Steve McCurry, and art historian and curator, Dr Marius Kwint, as they discuss McCurry’s extensive photographic career, on the occasion of the UK release date of McCurry’s latest publication, Devotion (Prestel, 1 November 2023).

The discussion will not only focus on Devotion’s incredible collection of images that explore human spirituality in all its remarkable diversity and beauty, but also delve into the role, responsibilities and future of reportage photography in the present media technological context of decentralised digital publishing, and the move of documentary photography into the fine art gallery sphere.

Steve McCurry, born in 1950, is an esteemed American photographer. He has worked extensively for National Geographic magazine and has been a member of Magnum Photos since 1986. Known for his compelling and evocative images that capture the human experience and the spirit of place, his 1984 portrait of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan Girl, is one of the world’s most recognisable photographs. The recipient of numerous awards, he has published many monographs on his work including his latest book, Devotion.

 

Dr Marius Kwint is an art historian and curator. Born in the US and educated in the UK, he has held fellowships at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal College of Art in London (jointly), as well as the Paul Mellon Centre for British Art Studies in London, The Houghton Library at Harvard University, and at St. Catherine’s College in the University of Oxford. He taught at Oxford for 14 years before becoming Reader (Associate Professor) in Visual Culture at the University of Portsmouth, where he works with practice-based students in art and design, including photography.