Pure
“Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes, and the grass grows, by itself” - Matsuo Basho
I have lived most of my life between the busy capital cities of Madrid and London, where, in spite of full agendas, a nagging feeling of 'missing something' persists. Like many people, I felt that something wasn’t right.
Instinctively, over the last decade, I've been drawn to photograph people with a different approach to life, individuals who seem to deal with their lives without haste, calmer and more present. I also noticed the act of photography was helping me to slow down and, when photographing them, that I could embrace the sense of peace embodied by these people simply practising the art of "doing nothing".
Working with film and a medium format camera also helps me to connect deeply with the subjects, nature and, ultimately, myself. Developing and printing the pictures in the darkroom adds a final meaningful layer to “Pure”, making the entire project a celebration of slow living.
︎
The Oval
Football holds a promise - a promise that at any moment something exciting is about to happen. I have witnessed that no matter where I go, this sport is a universal language, spoken by everyone, everywhere. While seeking out this promise contained in the form of a ball, football has allowed me to connect with many people worldwide, regardless of their race, age, sex or beliefs.
Football is also my passport to travel through time. It takes me back to my childhood in the streets of Getafe, where I played with friends day and night, where I grazed my knees on the hot tarmac of the summer streets, where football was in the hearts of the community, lived in the community, a joy for the community. Football takes me home, where everything feels safe and familiar.
This long-term project is a visual metaphor for the feelings and values embodied by ‘the beautiful game’. It speaks about empathy, respect and communion - values that I consider essential to cultivate a better society. The Oval is an invitation to feel a sense of belonging to a family called humanity.
︎
In Praise of Generosity
"In praise of generosity" is a tribute to the town of Vilassar de Dalt, (Barcelona) and its people who, with determination and passion, created the analogue photography festival RevelaT in 2012.
I developed the project over the artistic residency I took part in 2019, through a collection of intimate portraits of the volunteers in the heart of the festival: Cal Galbart, an abandoned old factory, in dialogue with minimal urban landscapes of the town.
︎
