Para 2

After giving a lot of thought to the direction in which I wanted take my photography, I finally decided to focus my work specifically on Para and to make him the central figure in my final project. Para is not the most photogenic person that I have met in the Port of Tabatinga, but he is by far the most fascinating, the most ambiguous, and the most contradictory. It is a considerable challenge to subtly depict such a complex character with whom I also have a close personal relationship. His poetic and nostalgic views blend well with my style of photography, giving me the impetus to integrate his poetry and reflections with my work.

find that Para’s life is both dramatic and compelling, simultaneously personal and sociopolitical. I have lived for almost one year in Colombia and have witnessed just how much Columbian society has been paralyzed by the never ending war that is has been involved with for many decades. Just as drought has been ravaging Amazonia during the entire length of my work here, the political situation in Colombia is not the subject of my work, but it inevitably forms the backdrop for it. Many Colombians who are victims of war have found refuge in Leticia, an Amazonian town located on the border between Brazil and Peru. However, the absence of social services, adequate infrastructure and employment in Leticia often induces them to move on to Brazil.

Para and I did several photo shoots together, both in the Port of Tabatinga and in the cemetery where Para often goes to get flowers, relax and smoke drugs. During one of the shoots in the cemetery, he was inspired to pose for a nude figure session. He had always wanted to do this back in New York with his artist friends but had never had the opportunity to do so. Para thought that doing a nude figure session in the cemetery could be funny and provocative while raising some interesting political and religious questions. I did my best to take artistic, respectful photographs to portray wh at he wanted to express: derision, sensitivity, eccentricity and humour.