Diario de un Retrato

An international collaboration with partners in Uruguay, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, UK, and Brazil to put on an exhibition at the Centro de Exposiciones el Subte, Montevideo, Uruguay. It was one of the two shows opening the 3rd edition of the International Photograhy Bienalle: Fotograma 2011. It is called ‘Diarip de un Retrato’ or ‘Journal of a Portrait.’ The project builds on previous collaborations between Desmond Barry and Uruguayan photographer Diego Vidart. We researched and developed contacts in Denmark, Sweden and Finland for further collaboration on the project in the form of exhibitions, readings and presentations. The project will continue to develop artistic connections between Wales and South America. We travelled to Kitee and Malmo in order:
1. to gather materials to be included in the exhibition;
2. to research the place of origin of the two central fictional characters: Esko, the creator of the Journal , a father and son called Esko and Matti, the elder of whom emigrated to Uruguay in the early sixties, the younger of whom wishes to develop a portrait in word, image and multi-media formats of his father.
We collected material to be used in the creation of a portrait of Matti by recording interviews with willing informants; producing photographs (in reportage and family snapshots formats); and acquisition of relevant material (old postcards, photos and objects that may have belonged to Esko or Matti.) Written material to be made by Desmond Barry, and the photographic material by Diego Vidart, Kristian Helgesen, and Martin Herrera. Veronica Cordeira curated the exhibition.