arts & culture

The current exhibit at the Fundació Foto Colectania, So far, so close, showcases work by Koldo Chamorro, Cristina García Rodero, Cristóbal Hara, Fernando Herráez, Anna Turbau and Ramón Zabalza which collectively captures the simplicity of rural life in black and white. While the collection is brought together by a common exploration of the rural Spanish society, each photographer’s unique view creates a multi-faceted view of life during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

By offering a glimpse into provincial towns and the traditions, festivals and marginalized cultures found within them, the work breaks from neorealist clichés and moves toward a certain magical realism. In moving away from the iconography of urban life, the artists’ work broke new ground in the field of documentary photography. This modern and innovative approach alone makes this exhibition worth visiting, yet the compelling photos offer a frank and open view into a side of Spain rarely seen.