Paying tribute to one of Spain's greatest photographers

Una maestra — Spanish photographer, Lua Ribeira, reflects on the importance of one of her country's greatest ever photographers - Cristina Garcia Rodero.

This story appears in The Documentary Photography Special VII. Get your copy now, or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue.

When I look at the images Cristina Garcia Rodero makes, I see a synergy in our work. I believe it’s because we both like to spend time with people. We enjoy the union one creates with others through the process of photography – there’s a similar energy there. She speaks a lot about religion and the body, which are themes I’ve explored in projects like Noises In the Blood, which is about dancehall culture in the UK, and Subida al Cielo, a series on death and mortality. In our work, we are trying to express universal themes – the strength and fragility of people, the human condition, collective behaviour, passion, pain – in ways that still remain revealing.

Cristina began photographing the deep-rooted rites and traditions of small towns and villages in rural Spain when she was in her early 20s. Back then – during the ’70s and ’80s – she was one of the few artists looking at these subjects, which were at the time ignored and perceived as regressive.

When Cristina was photographing, it was at the end of Franco’s dictatorship. Spain was turning towards Europe, paying more attention to tourism and modern values. But she was going to these little places and documenting the folklore – the traditional practices, religious and pagan rituals. All of these things are extreme in their expression; they define very precisely our relationship with death, pain, power, and each other. The project ended up lasting 15 years.

The pictures make up her famed 1989 book España Oculta. My older sister, who is also a photographer, always had a copy of it at home. I remember looking at it when I was younger, feeling both excited and overwhelmed. It documented an authentic Spain – pilgrimages, carnivals, processions – I had never fully experienced. What captivated me most was the way each photograph seemed to transcend time and place to touch upon something more universal – in a theatrical kind of way.

Most of the photos also happen to be made in my region: Galicia, in Spain’s northwest. I recently visited many of the traditional events that Cristina captured all those years ago. Her images became a nostalgic guide for me to return to these places; ones that have changed a lot over the years but somehow still feel the same.

I met Cristina for the first time not long ago. I was fascinated by what she had to say – not just about photography, but about life and art. We connected because we share the same language, and also because we share ideas about what photography is, even if we use different strategies. Her advice was always to keep a strong personality: be different, do your own thing, focus on that mission and be generous.

To me, Cristina is una maestra – a master and a teacher. She was, and remains, a courageous woman that opened doors for many of us. Her relationship with Spain and Spanish culture is what makes her work extraordinary. The more I look at it, the more I see its depth; the sacrifice and the layers behind it.

© Lua Ribeira/Magnum Photos

This story appears in The Documentary Photography Special VII. Get your copy now, or subscribe to make sure you never miss another issue.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Focus on humanising people. Text over a bright green background with a faint image of a person's face.
Activism

Plestia Alaqad: “Journalists should focus on humanising people”

Huck’s April interview — Having become one of the most crucial and followed voices from inside Gaza in the aftermath of October 7, the award-winning author and journalist is releasing a new memoir, ‘The Eyes of Gaza’, collating diary entries made over the past 18 months. We caught up with her to hear more about it.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Vans

The instrument makers taking DIY music to a whole new level

What does it take to construct a modular synth? How do you turn a block of wood into a double bass? Here, four craftspeople explain why they chose to rip up the rulebooks and build their own music-making machines.

Written by: Daniel Dylan Wray

Energetic music performance on stage with colourful lighting, smoke and audience.
Culture

Southbank Centre reveals new series dedicated to East and Southeast Asian arts

ESEA Encounters — Taking place between 17-20 July, there will be a live concert from YMO’s Haruomi Hosono, as well as discussions around Asian literature, stage productions, and a pop-up Japanese Yokimono summer market.

Written by: Zahra Onsori

Two people in colourful costume against a vibrant pink background.
Culture

In 1971, Pink Narcissus redefined queer eroticism

Camp classic — A new restoration of James Bidgood’s cult film is showing in US theatres this spring. We revisit its boundary pushing aesthetics, as well as its enduring legacy.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Crowd gathered around outdoor fire on night, silhouetted figures, flaming objects visible.
Music

As amapiano goes global, where does it leave its roots?

Rainbow grooves — Over the past decade, the house music subgenre has exploded into a worldwide phenomenon. Jak Hutchcraft went to its birthplace of Mamelodi, South Africa, to explore its still-thriving local scene.

Written by: Jak Hutchcraft

Crowd of silhouetted people at a nighttime event with colourful lighting and a bright spotlight on stage.
Music

Clubbing is good for your health, according to neuroscientists

We Become One — A new documentary explores the positive effects that dance music and shared musical experiences can have on the human brain.

Written by: Zahra Onsori

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to stay informed from the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, with personal takes on the state of media and pop culture in your inbox every month from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.