DAN ELDON: Globally Recognized for His Stunning Collages and Photojournalism

Dan Eldon's richly layered collages and haunting photos of famine and war in Somalia have inspired individuals around the world since his death in 1993. Now, 25 years later, HG Contemporary, in collaboration with Creative Visions and Trotta-Bono Contemporary, will honor Eldon's legacy with a one-of-a-kind exhibition, presenting 19 of the artist's limited edition prints alongside a number of works from three artists who were directly influenced by Eldon's life and mission. The exhibit opens on September 6th and runs through October 1st. 

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Dan Eldon's richly layered collages and haunting photos of famine and war in Somalia have inspired individuals around the world since his death in 1993. Now, 25 years later, HG Contemporary, in collaboration with Creative Visions and Trotta-Bono Contemporary, will honor Eldon's legacy with a one-of-a-kind exhibition, presenting 19 of the artist's limited edition prints alongside a number of works from three artists who were directly influenced by Eldon's life and mission. The exhibit opens on September 6th and runs through October 1st.

Dan Eldon was born in England, but moved to Kenya at the age of seven with his British father and American mother. His intimate connection to Africa and extensive travels (to 46 countries) provided rich content for the artist. Eldon captured these experiences in a collection of 17 bulging journals, packed with drawings, photographs and ephemera. 

In 1991, Eldon, 22, was the first to create awareness of a famine in Somalia, and his photos helped trigger an international relief mission, Operation Restore Hope. The international efforts saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of starving Somalis. For the next year, Eldon returned to Somalia as the youngest photojournalist for Reuters. Eldon documented the descent of the country into a bloody civil war for global outlets including Time, Newsweek and international newspapers. On July 12th, 1993, a misguided US-lead attack on a house where a warlord was reportedly hiding left more than 200 Somalis dead or wounded. Survivors rushed to the journalists' hotel to beg them to film the carnage. In the ensuing chaos, Eldon and three of his colleagues were beaten or stoned to death by an angry mob.  

Soon after, Eldon's family discovered his journals. They have been featured in Chronicle Books' best-selling collection, The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon (recently re-released with a foreword by Kweku Mandela).  Eldon's art has inspired countless and is in many prestigious private collections, including those of Diana Rockefeller, Bruce Weber, Madonna, Julia Roberts, Christiane Amanpour, among others. 

Dan's extraordinary life is portrayed in the feature film The Journey is the Destination, produced by Kweku Mandela and directed by Bronwen Hughes, currently available on Netflix and all VOD platforms. HG Contemporary is excited to present the works of Dan Eldon and three artists who have been inspired by his spirit. Additional details available below.  

aubriewienholt@prforartists.com