Viewfinder To Show South American Child Poverty

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To mark World Poverty Day, Greenwich's Viewfinder Photography Gallery announces a hard-hitting exhibition which tells the story some of the hundreds of child workers who fight to survive on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Lustrabotas, a series of photographs by Phil Clarke-Hill, documents the shoe-shine boys of the city who sell a Big Issue-style newspaper to supplement their income. Because of the stigma of working the streets in the Bolivian capital, many wear masks to hide their identity. The exhibition, which runs from 4 November to 2 October, documents the daily lives of the children, some of whom are homeless and fighting the temptation of drink and drugs, struggling to survive in South America's poorest country. Operating as both art and social commentary, the series is accompanied by a discussion evening addressing the role of street newspapers in empowering the unemployed. The newspaper, called Hormigon Armando, which means Army of Ants when read backwards, works as a voice for the boys and is designed as a stepping stone to help them work their way off the streets. Part of the project is an outreach programme run by editor Alexis Camacho, consisting of workshops in writing and photography for the boys. The exhibition runs from 4th October to 2nd November 2008 at Viewfinder Photography Gallery, Linear House, Peyton Place, off Royal Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8RS. Monday to Friday, 9-5pm Saturday and Sunday, 12-4pm - entry is free.

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