"I discovered the amazing creativity of the Benchs, full of freedom and fantasy. They often use clay to model the heads of their scarecrows: looking at them, one can't help but think of our modern sculptors; whereas this people know nothing of our artistic culture." Hans Silvester.

Having photographed the paintings and body decorations of the Omo people, this is the first time that Hans Silvester shows us the expressionist images that animate these creatures of straw, clay and rags. The scarecrow was an innate culture that marked the cultivated areas of the countryside and is still practiced by the Benchs. Indeed, farmers make them according to an established tradition that allows for artistic spontaneity. In the fields, these postichous humans have the duty to discourage birds in order to preserve the crops. In addition to their mission of deterrence, the scarecrows have a symbolic charge to produce an abundant agriculture.

Retour De Voyage has selected this photo which illustrates the amazing creativity employed with so little.