LÉON A. FERNANDES
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    • ART & MUSIC >
      • CHAPTER 1 / AXEL BESSON
      • TIWO / TACT
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    • DOCUMENTARY >
      • 25 DE ABRIL, 50 ANOS DEPOIS
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      • CHESTNUT HALT
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      • O POVO DA MONTANHA
      • WHAT IS LOVE
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      • SABLE NOIR
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O POVO DA MONTANHA

Tras-Os-Montes, Portugal
​O Povo da Montanha, or "The People of The Mountain", is an on-going hommage to the North-east and an attempt to reconnect to my family's roots. 
​It is an invitation to viewing this region through the eyes of an adult, who holds the memories and impressions of a child as fuel for documentation.
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A chicken coop, Lamas, 2024
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A tractor, Lamas, 2024

My family originates from two humble rural villages, Lamas and Murços, of the district of Bragança, Trás-os-Montes. Despite being one of the economically poorest and least developed regions in Portugal, its culture makes it one of the richest. This region of the North-east is a land of tradition - homemade foods, handmade objects, a strong sense of community, a pride to be Trasmontano, and most importantly, unconditional love for nature. 

My parents were brought up as farmers and immigrated to France at a very young age, determined to follow the path of their older siblings in hopes of finding a better future. As a second-generation immigrant growing up in another country, I never felt truly connected to Portugal, though its culture had significantly influenced my whole childhood. To me, this country is a gathering of smells, sights and sounds piled up throughout several summer vacations.

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Portrait of my Maternal Grand-Mother, Benedita, Murços, 2018
                          My Father and Tio Joao, Murços, 2018

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       Maternal Grand-Mother’s bedroom, Murços, 2018
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​          Traditional wooden knife, Lamas, 2024
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A closed chapel in a church, Bragança, 2018
Top-left: Tio Joao's old tractor, Murços, 2018
Top - right: Maternal Grand-Mother's front porch and drying clothes, Murços, 2018
Bottom-left: Tio Zé's dogs guarding the entrance of his rabbit farm, Murços, 2018
Bottom-right: The open wash house, Murços, 2018

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Tia Prazes afterpicking up pumpkins, Lamas, 2024                       
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Dug up tree, Lamas, 2024 ​
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Tio Zé picking pumpkins, Lamas, 2024                    

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Igreja do Povo, Lamas, 2024                        
Presuntos hanging from the ceiling, Bragança, 2018                         
 Cross of Senhora do Campo on the Hill, Lamas, 2018

 LÉON A. FERNANDES © 2018-2022. All rights reserved.
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  • ABOUT
  • CINEMATOGRAPHY
    • ART & MUSIC >
      • CHAPTER 1 / AXEL BESSON
      • TIWO / TACT
      • SABLE NOIR REHEARSAL
    • DOCUMENTARY >
      • 25 DE ABRIL, 50 ANOS DEPOIS
    • PERSONAL & EXPERIMENTAL >
      • CHESTNUT HALT
      • EXPERIMENTAL SURF FILM
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • DOCUMENTARY >
      • DAILY REALITIES & DIARIES
      • O POVO DA MONTANHA
      • WHAT IS LOVE
    • EDITORIAL >
      • AYMERIC
      • PATTI PEOPLE
      • BOTH& ABROAD
    • MUSIC >
      • SABLE NOIR
      • FLEUR BLEU.E
    • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ZINES
    • FALLEN ANGELES