Time has passed by

Elder Residence Ramón Berenguer, Barcelona

I am very proud to announce that this project has been honoured with the 3er place of the International Photography Awards 2018, in the amateur category of Deeper Perspective.

The photographs of this series were taken as a part of my project for the photography seminar ‘Storytelling’ teached by Patrick Zachmann in Barcelona from 5th to 7th June 2017. As I am a very curious person, I have been always interested in the human nature and particularly in what the elder people might tell, since I believe that they speak from the source of experience. Therefore, I chose the Elder Residence Ramon Berenguer in the outskirts of Barcelona as theme for my photographic project. The idea of these images came up as I arrived to the site and found an exhibition of the photographs of the residents when they were young. I performed two unbelievable, amazing and absolutely touching photographic sessions and ended up with about thirty portraits. Naturally, some of the portrayed elder have passed away and everytime I go I am afraid to ask who is still there.

Maruja

I felt connected to María instantly. She was raised in a small town in the South of Spain, close to my home town actually, and migrated to Switzerland almost as a youngster where she lived on her own during thirty years. She worked abroad for a long time and never got married or had children. A very similar situation to mine. At a point of time, she returned and decided to live her ultimate time in the Residence Ramon Berenguer. Will I need to confront such a kind of decision in my future?

Antonia

Antonia and her family exiled to France due to the political ideas of her father. When the Civil War ended she returned to Spain and got married. She never had children. Antonia feels very useful supporting the other elder residents.

Rosa

We found a hat for Rosa, similar to the one of her photograph when she was young. She never got married, never had kids. She started living in the Residence 15 years ago, where she feels surrounded by a big family.

Josep

Josep felt very engaged with the social life of the city where the elder residence is located, taking even responsibilities in its local government. He was very popular among the women of Santa Coloma de Gramenet and he laughed when he was reminded of that.

Montserrat

Montserrat started crying as soon as she recognised herself in the photograph, and I almost bursted into tears at that moment as well. She was born in a town near the Pyrenees but moved to Barcelona after the Civil War ended, and enjoyed very much dancing the traditional Catalonian dances when she was young. To be confronted with the effects of the passing time is one of the moving challenges we face in our lives. Will I cry when I see my photographs from my present time in some years?