Despite It All We Never Learn, is a book of refugee testimonials taken from the Mediterranean Sea from those living in situations beyond our imaginations released by photographer and documentarian, Kenny Karpov.

Karpov’s mission is to share the stories of the many refugees that he encountered during his time in Europe. The book that he crowdfunded earlier this year, describes the agonizing first person narratives and impossible decisions that refugees have to make as they head toward what they believe is a better life.

Artist Matt Eaton explores themes of nostalgia and space.

Episode 908/Segment 2

Kenny Karpov will be the featured exhibiting artist at M Contemporary Art Gallery, right across the street from the Ferndale Library, starting November 22 -thru – December 15. This is his first solo exhibition, but Karpov is not an artist. Even if it is an exhibition in a gallery, with 21 works of photography, Karpov is not an artist, just as he’s not your typical photographer. At least he doesn’t talk like one; doesn’t live like one, and doesn’t, frankly, think like one.

In first exhibition of his drawings in five years, Rucker explores the connections between rock pigeons and African-American males — “marginalized person, marginalized animal,” says Rucker.

Detroit native Kenny Karpov at 17 moved to New York where he became a photojournalist with the New York Times and the BBC. His story telling abilities drew the attention of international help organizations and as a result he has just published a book of his 4 1/2 year mission to document the rescue of Libyan and Syrian refugees in small boats in the Mediterranean sea.Detroit native Kenny Karpov at 17 moved to New York where he became a photojournalist with the New York Times and the BBC. His story telling abilities drew the attention of international help organizations and as a result he has just published a book of his 4 1/2 year mission to document the rescue of Libyan and Syrian refugees in small boats in the Mediterranean sea.

A background in storytelling and photography plays a big part in Rashaun Rucker's art, which he uses to direct attention to critical social issues.

The Vanguard Artist Collective is a semi-formal nod to pioneering Chicago-based black art collectives like the Organization of Black American Culture and AfriCOBRA, which were founded during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

“We push each other to be better artists and better people — even when it’s critical,” says Rucker.

“Despite It All We Never Learn” is a collection of short essays and 85 testimonials from refugees that were recorded and written while Karpov was volunteering in the Mediterranean Sea onboard various rescue vessels operated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of the existence of the people taking to the sea and the abuses they endured through their own words.

An exhibition of Karpov's work will be on view at M Contemporary Art from November 22 - December 14, 2019.

A conversation with artist Dessislava Terzieva