WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO
them . At the beginning , no one was sure about how everyone would react to treatment . I would like to show the “ Сovid-19 war ” that was going on in local hospitals . The real ‘ heroes ’ are common people , as usual . But also the nurses ’ support was pivotal and still is in handling any patient , risking their lives , especially at the beginning . For my kids , it was very funny since I had to undress myself and wash my clothes every time I was back home . In Monaco , we were very lucky since we could count on all means of protection .
: What was the hardest part of this project ?
ND : The hardest part was when people woke up after an about seven-weeks of induced coma . I felt really terrible witnessing those scenes . In some cases , asking about their relatives , they found out some of them hadn ’ t survived . In other cases , the virus came back just when people were ready to go back home with several complications .
: How could you cope with such dreadful situations ?
ND : Being honest , the more I am taking pictures the more I am close to tears because people are often the victims of violence . When I see girls suffering I think of my family and I put myself in their shoes . It can be emotionally very tough . In my every day routine , I live a comfortable life but I always recall what I depict in my photos . For example , I have plenty of choice in choosing milk and there are people who are lacking food . My family helps me a lot since when I come home I switch off and they bring back my sanity . Maybe I should do some meditation just to stop the thoughts since I know the people who are suffering are still there .
: What piece of advice would you suggest to world leaders and politicians ?
ND : In my opinion , real changes can only come through government action . That is for sure . We can always help and change people ’ s lives but real change must be brought about at policy level . Governments simply don ’ t do enough for people . They have their own interests and geopolitical strategies . Unfortunately , I have to say that power does have potential to corrupt ; and corruption actually exists . I have often seen clever leaders who really wanted to make a change who then changed their mind to stay in power as much as possible for personal interest . It is really disheartening . On the other side , there are some leaders who are committed to positive change . Angela Merkel made a good impression on me , as an example . Her speech towards her people touched me by the way she really wants to improve their conditions . Moreover , Prince Albert II of Monaco is generating really good energy in this tiny Principality so popular across the world . He is very committed to ecology and I benefitted from his Foundation to develop my projects throughout the poorest countries in the world . I am involved with people and if you are not able to change them you cannot change the way they behave . Undoubtedly , when I became a Monegasque citizen I felt very privileged since just a few receive this status . I still don ’ t know why I was granted this particular special honour . When I travel , people often ask me where I come from and I was already used to mentioning Monaco since I have been living here for decades .
I left for Paris and , because I had no money , I ended up sleeping on the street after a couple of nights . That opened my eyes to very different sets of people .
: You were born in London , lived in Switzerland and now you are living in Monaco , two of the richest countries in Europe . In what way have those locations influenced you ?
ND : I grew up in very privileged circumstances that helped me a lot in collecting knowledge from my family and the environment . Thus , I had the opportunity to give something to others . And why shouldn ’ t I do it ? When I was twelve , I said to my parents that I would visit Paris for a week to visit museums and enjoy the artistic atmosphere . They didn ’ t believe it since I didn ’ t have any passport , any travel ticket and I had only tiny pocket money . Despite that , I left for Paris and , because I had no money , I ended up sleeping on the street after a couple of nights earning some money by sketching tourists ’ places . My mother and father were both furious since mobile phones didn ’ t exist and I just sent them a postcard from Paris . That opened my eyes to very different sets of people . A combination of privileged status and having these kind of experiences have motivated me to do what I do . After travelling for a long time , it was just a natural progression from my original nature as an artist . Among various destinations , I have been to Russia , where I was involved in a documentary film about HIV and the ‘ dark underside ’ of Moscow ( 2000 ), and to the Soviet Union many times when it existed including the Soviet Socialist Republics like Uzbekistan , Tajikistan , etc . Probably , my great grandparents had Polish and Eastern Russian roots . I also travelled with the Dalai Lama within the Buryat communities .
: You stated that you never retouch your photos , why ?
ND : First of all , my main mission is documentary — that means truth and integrity . I usually avoid pose pictures unless they are targeted for a magazine cover . Posing would distract from the wholeness of my projects . Secondly , for me taking pictures is like painting . The view is like a canvas and I look at the four corners and that is my picture . I don ’ t use zoom . Every time I make a close up I really approach the topic like with Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush . Usually , every about a thousand photos my editor proposes to me to crop one or two photos and I always say no .
: If you had a special power to solve one problem , what would you choose ?
ND : I would choose girls ’ education because all the problems I witness today are the consequence of lack of women ’ s empowerment . If all girls had choices we would be living in a better and healthier world . When I see women being victims of any kind of abuse I always think about the importance of education that must be granted to everyone to avoid all that .
: Can anyone help out to improve the situation ?
ND : In a place like Monaco , Government is supporting projects and some Foundations are helping society to move on . Of course , people can do it by sponsoring children and making one child ’ s life better through the donation of just 20 euros a month . There are so many things you can do and endless projects you can finance .
: Do you have a dream ?
ND : I have many dreams but I am primarily seeking a more peaceful and just society . I think we are making strides towards this achievement . In all the charity and
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