The project
Portrait Nomadic
The Archive
The main objective of this project is to create a Photographic Archive of Portraits of people living in small towns. We understand that these peoples are source and caregivers of culture, identity, character and language.
Nomad Portrait wants to give prominence to the peoples and their peoples, and thus create a photographic archive as a photographic archive as a memory and heritage of who and how the people who lived in this time were.
The Villages, the key
This activity will be carried out if we have the help of the municipalities. It is with them that we specify the dates, the budget and the rest of the details to make the visit a success.
It is an absolutely open and cross-cutting activity, free for the participants and, of course, never mandatory.
The Origin
Inspired by great photography masters who used portable studies for their more anthropological works, such as the pioneer Edward S. Curtis,with his work on American Indians, Irving Penn with his work “Worlds in a Small Room”, John Delaney with “Golden Eagle Nomads” or Richard Avedon with his famed series “In American West.”
At the state level, we are inspired by the photographer from Palencia, Piedad Isla, who, being aware of a way of life that was changing, dedicated herself to portray, tirelessly, the social life of her environment, traveling with her camera and her Vespa.
In our case, we used the exterior of the motorhome as the base structure of the set, we took the studio to the places we visited.
©Irving Penn
©Fundación Piedad Isla & Juan Torres
©Laura Wilson
bitxa
In order to make this project so ambitious we have our beloved Bitxa,which is our house, photo studio and traveling gallery.
‘Everything happens around Bitxa’
She is the protagonist and the center of everything we do. It is a German Hymer-Mobil S550 from 1982 mounted on a Mercedes-Benz van T1 208 gasoline, from the well-known “Brownie” series..
We have transformed it, updated and adapted to our needs.
The study
On one side we set up the photo studio, which is open during our stay in the village.
We open the awning, put a fabric as a background and another on the side to get a more intimate corner (if it does too much wind, of course).
In this way, those who want to portray themselves can pass at any time.
The portraits
We invite the person portrayed to move into the Bitxa where we select and print on a copy of the paper portrait at the moment. We also send them their portrait in digital.
On the other hand, we prepare all the portraits we have made in the village to be delivered to the town hall in a bespoke box so that they can keep it and leave for consultation.
And, of course, we add them to this digital file,which you’re visiting, to make them available all over the world.
exhibition
On the other side, we set up the exhibition with the portraits we have been doing in the villages where we have passed.
A way for people from different peoples to see and get to know each other, so as to try to “connect” different communities.
THE BENEFITS
With our visit, there are many things we try to bring to the community.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE
We value the people who live in small towns. Our portraits are individual because we believe that each person is important.
CREATING MEMORY FOR THE FUTURE
With the help of the villagers, we create an archive of the people who make up the community. It will be something historical that will be of particular value in a few decades’ time. It is a collaborative work that stays in the village itself.
ENERGISING WITH CULTURE
It is a different, unique and special activity for the people who participate. We use it to bring photography closer to the people, while creating a memory that stays in everyone’s memory.
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
The photo exhibition on the side of the motorhome allows people from different communities to meet and get to know each other.
THE NOMADIC LIFE
Sharing other ways of life enriches the listener. Our way of life raises many questions. Questions that we often answer in the form of screenings, meetings or talks with neighbours, visits from school or village children, etc.
PHOTO EXHIBITION
With all the photographs we take in the village, the Town Council can put together an exhibition with the photographs of its residents: hang them in a hall, stick them on the walls of the village, on the balconies, etc. Creativity to the power!
Retrato Nómada is aligned with the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
We have prepared all the material you may need to communicate our project.
Anything, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thanks a lot!
Your participation matters!
Help make your community become part of this unique photographic archive!
