Pietro Paolini

Buscando a Bolivar

book exhibition

The project is the result of my trips to Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela between 2009 and 2014. I documented daily life in the countries of the new Latin American socialism. My search focused on creating images that could excavate stereotypes, trying to look at these places and events in their complexities.

From 2004 to 2014 I have been travelling around Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela attracted by the political scenarios unfolding in such countries. As from the late 90s in most of Latin America, the economic crises and the restricted access to basic resources for most of the population resulted in the failure of the neoliberal policies of previous decades and gave way to the left-wing parties throughout the continent. The traditional parties had lost their credibility and Presidents such as Evo Morales, Rafael Correa and Hugo Chávez gave voice to the people who had been marginalized before. They promoted imaginaries inspired by Simon Bolívar and the heroes of America’s Independence, thus focusing attention on the ancestral roots of their cultures and promoting a vision of a united Latin America. They were elected presidents thanks to the strong support of social and indigenous movements in all three counties, where new constitutions were drafted and adopted with the majority support of the population. The shared dream of a more egalitarian society came true thanks to these political movements, but in very different ways in line with the social and cultural differences of all three countries. Often the promotion of social rights and the appropriation of natural resources led to a growing corruption and a strong polarization of society. The governments became increasingly indifferent to social movements and continued pursuing strong extractive policies, thus drifting away from their own constitutions and showing their contradictions. It was a moment of rupture in history for young democracies in a continent that was still healing its wounds. It was a time of hope for some and uncertainty for others, knowing that anything could change at any time into the unpredictable future. This is something I have never experienced in my European homeland, a continent striving to keep its fragile identity alive while its dream for an unlimited progress is shattered into pieces. Along this route I found much more than I was looking for. I was dazzled by the unexpected, by the diversity and the complexity, which are the very essence of reality. My life mixed with my photographs and my identity blended into that of a whole continent; a continent which dares to make strong changes by raising political awareness and struggling for social progress. Only dreams can help us imagine a better future.

The street that pass trought the Pico de l'aguila, one of the highest montain near Merida.
Indigeni Waorani si lavano nel fiume, nel cuore della zona intoccabile della foresta amazzonica ecuatoriana, una piccola zona protetta dallo stato a causa della presenza di tribu non contattate. Marzo 2013.Waorani indigenous peolple wash themselves in the river, in the heart of the untouchable zone of the Amazon rainforest, a small area protected by the state due to the presence of uncontacted tribes. March 2013.
Una piscina di petrolio nella zona di Lago Agrio, creata piu di 20 anni fa durante il periodo di estrazione della Texaco nella regione, che ha distrutto completamente l’ambiente e la salute delle comunità della zona. Gli abitanti sono in causa con texaco, aspettando il terzo grado di giudizio, la condanna finale sarebbe un precedente storico di risarcimento da parte di una grossa multinazionale per i danni provocati all’ambiente a alla vita delle persone. Novembre 2011.A pool of oil in the area of Lago Agrio, which was created over 20 years ago during the period of extraction by Texaco in the region, which completely destroyed the environment and the health of communities in the area. The inhabitants are in dispute with Texaco, waiting for the third instance, the final sentence would be an historical precedent for compensation on the part of a large multinational for the damage caused to the environment. November 2011.
La spiaggia di Atacames durante il week end, nel nord della regione costiera. Una delle spiagge piu popolari tra gli ecuatoriani. Ottobre 2012.The Atacames beach in the weekend, one of the most popular beaches among local tourism. October 2012.
Un pescatore pulisce il pesce insieme a sua moglie su una spiaggia di Manabì. Ottobre 2012.A fisherman cleans the fish with his wife on a beach in Manabì. October 2012.
Raccoglitori di conchiglie nella baia di San Lorenzo, una delle zone ancora incontaminate della costa ecuatoriana. Ottobre 2012Collectors of shells in the bay of San Lorenzo, one of the wilder zone of the Ecuadorian coast. October 2012
Un pescatore di gamberi sotto il nuovo ponte costruito dal governo sulla baia di Caràquez. Ottobre 2012A shrimp fisherman under the new bridge built by the government of the Bay of Caraquez. October 2012
Fishermen coming back from the work session at the sun rise in Punta Cardon. In the background the biggest oil refinery of Venezuela.
Gli alloggi dei lavoratori che opereranno nella Rafineria del Pacifico, la piu grossa raffineria di petrolio mai costruita nella costa pacifica delle Americhe, tuttora in costruzione nella regione di Manbì, anche grazie a determinanti investimenti del governo venezuelano. Ottobre 2012.Accommodation of workers who will work in the “Rafineria del Pacifico”, the most large oil refinery ever built in the Pacific coast of the Americas, which is still under construction in the region of Manbi, thanks to investments of the Venezuelan government. October 2012.
Some workers on the roof of a contruction site in Caracas. The building is part of the program "Mission Vivienda" to give houses to the poorest part of the population.
Nuevo Circo, a school of circus and street cultures biuld in the old bullfight arena.
Teste di toro al nuovo terminal per autobus a sud di Quito. Febbraio 2013.Heads of bulls at the new terminal for buses in the south of Quito. February 2013.
Alcuni giocolieri si riposano dopo aver intrattenuto gli spettatori all’ingresso dell stadio di Quito dove si stava disputando una partita della nazionale per le qualificazioni al mondiale in Brasile. Ottobre 2012.Some jugglers are resting after having entertained the audience at the entrance of the stadium in Quito where the national footbal team was competing in a match for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil. October 2012
Cantieri di costruzione di pescherecci a Manta, dove si trova la piu grande flotta di pescherecci del paese. Dicembre 2011.Shipyards for the construction of fishing vessels in Manta, where is the largest fishing fleet of the country. December 2011.
Guys playing bowls in the comunity Felipe Acosta in the outskirts of Caracas.
Nel back stage di una corrida ad Ambato, a sud di Quito. Al centro il picador aspetta di entrare nell’arena. La corrida è uno spettacolo molto popolare in Ecuador, anche se nel maggio del 2011 grazie ad un referendum di riforma costituzionale voluto da Correa in molte regioni si è proibito l’uccisone del toro. La riforma conteneva anche riforme del potere giudiziario e dei media. Marzo 2013.In the back stage of a bullfight in Ambato, south of Quito. Bullfighting is a very popular show in Ecuador. At the center of the picador waiting to enter the arena. Bullfighting is a very popular show in Ecuador, although in May 2011 thanks to a referendum on constitutional reform desired by Correa in many regions has prohibited the murder of the bull. The reform also contained reforms of the judiciary and the media systems. March 2013.
The National Guard waiting for a demostration of opposition students.
A view of Caracas, capital of Venezuela.
Un gruppo di cheerleader si prepara per la loro performance in uno stadio della zona sud di Quito, durante il festival delle bande musicali studentesche. Dicembre 2011.A group of cheerleaders getting ready for their performance in a stadium in the south of Quito, during a festival of students music bands. December 2011.
A family in their house a in a poor neighborhood of Puerto Ayacucho.
Un cantante afro durante la festa di carnevale nella valle di Salinas. Le comunità afro rappresentano il 7,2% della popolazione.A singer afro during the carnival party in the Chota Valley. African communities representing 7.2% of the population. February 2013.
Un meccanico nelle periferie nord di Quito. Marzo 2013.A mechanic in the suburbs north of Quito. March 2013.
Some people waiting for a bus in the Pico de L'aguila.
Un elettore esprime la sua preferenza durante le elezioni presidenziali del 18 febbraio 2013, dove Correa è stato riconfermato per il suo secondo mandato con il 57% dei consensi.A citizen expresses his preference during the presidential elections of 18th of February 2013, where Correa was re-elected for his second mandate with 57% of the vote.
Un contadino brucia i resti del suo campo per preparare il terreno ad una nuova semina. Crucita, zona costiera. Ottobre 2012.A farmer burns the remains of his camp to prepare the ground for a new planting. Crucita, coastal region. October 2012.
Un contadino brucia i resti del suo campo per preparare il terreno ad una nuova semina. Crucita, zona costiera. Ottobre 2012.A farmer burns the remains of his camp to prepare the ground for a new planting. Crucita, coastal region. October 2012.

Caserta, Galleria Nicola Pedana, 2019