Through Central Borneo in the Footsteps of the Explorer Carl Lumholtz 100 Years After

BERGEN, Norway - April 5, 2014 - PRLog -- The Spanish documentary photographer Diego Zapatero and the Norwegian writer Narve Rio are going to follow in the footsteps of the famous Norwegian ethnographer and explorer Carl Lumholtz through Central Borneo 100 years after Lumholtz travelled the same distance to display Borneo today in a historic perspective.

Carl Lumholtz lived between 1851–1922, and was best known for his paradigm changing field research and ethnographic publications on indigenous cultures in Indonesia, Australia and Mexico. During 1913 to 1917 he travelled two years in Borneo where he managed to cross from Banjarmasin on the southern coast of Borneo through central Borneo to end up in Samarinda on the east coast. At that time this was a major triumph in the history of exploring Borneo. Lumholtz published the book "Through Central Borneo - An Account of Two Years' Travel in the Land of the Head Hunters Between the Years 1913 and 1917" in the wake of the expedition that stunned the public with its rich illustrations and vivid tales of the land and people of Borneo.

Carl Lumholtz book gives a unique opportunity to provide contexts to the image of development impacts on nature and livelihoods. Lumholtz's extensive research and photography of tribes, cultures and environment provides a much richer and more visual picture to compare with than is normally the case.

The rainforests of Borneo are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. They are home to thousands of plant species, countless types of insect, a vast array of birds, and some of the world's most iconic and endangered mammals like the orang-utan, Sumatran rhino, clouded leopard, and pygmy elephant. The world's rainforest are also home to many tribal people - this is one of the least-recognised facts about rainforests. Lumholtz himself claimed to be the first explorer to "put the head hunters of Borneo in the right light before the civilized world."

The cultural diversity of Borneo is as distinct and varied as its plant and animal life. The island is the third largest island in the world and more than 18 million people live in Borneo.

Thanks to Lumholtz we will be able contribute to shed a light on what has actually happened in Borneo during the 100 years that has passed since his expedition.