ADEUS

Vicente Fraga

In Galicia, life has always found a way, along with a social culture deeply connected to the land. The mild climate, generally fertile soil, and abundant natural resources such as water have allowed virtually every corner of this region to be inhabited. However, since the 1970s, unfavourable policies towards rural areas, avoiding a dialogue with their inhabitants, have created the need to seek better opportunities, resulting in a mass exodus to urban centres. This has led to the abandonment of much of Galicia’s rural areas, completely transforming the relationship between people and the landscape. This transformation has had a particularly severe impact on inland areas, where the rural way of life still persists but is clearly at risk of disappearing.

Adeus is my tribute to the people who give meaning to this land. Through each photograph, I aim to show the human dimension of our roots, to raise awareness of what we must remember and pass on to future generations. But it is also my way of staying in touch with everything I consider valuable, which still retains a certain degree of purity within a globalised world. I portray people and places, fully aware that I am witnessing a farewell. The end of this culture is something I cannot conceive, and it pains me deeply. My response to oblivion is to build memory by showing a past we are all part of.

Along the way, I have learned how important it is to approach people with integrity. Approaching them with respect brings the reward of knowing their experience. Behind each face is a life that should be told in their own words. It is not just about showing how I see them, but giving them the opportunity to tell their own story.