Diamond Matters

Mirroring the progress of the diamond from the mines of Africa to the world of fashion, Diamond Matters records the lifespan of the world's most precious stone. Starting with the mineworkers-many just children-celebrated photographer Kadir van Lohuizen tracks the sparkling ice on its socially upward journey. With interviews from those digging it from hillsides with bare hands to participants in conflicts in Zaire, Sierra Leone, and Angola; to dealers and to wearers, it is a beautiful yet deeply disturbing and thought-provoking book. The book charts the rising awareness of the blood diamond issue, as pressure and the threat to its image grew in the diamond industry to create a certification system guaranteeing that only conflict-free diamonds came on the market. While new pacts have reduced smuggling and added more transparency, still little of the world's enormous mineral profits flow back to the people. A fair-trade agreement with profits shared by all is the next step. Bound in luxurious suede, with a small diamond on the front cover, and elegantly printed in tritone on five different papers, Diamond Matters is an explosive idea in a small package. Dutch-born Kadir van Lohuizen is the recipient of numerous international awards and grants, including prizes from World Press Photo in 1997 and Foundation Vluchteling; the Dick Scherpenzeel Prize in 2000; a 2001 grant from the Foundation for Visual Arts, Design, and Architecture; and more. He is the author of five books and numerous exhibitions.