O POVO DA MONTANHA

Portrait of my Maternal Grand-Mother, Benedita, Trás-Os-Montes, Portugal, 2018

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.

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 a young adult, who holds the memories and impressions of a child as fuel for documentation.

1. Uncle Joao's old tractor. 2. Maternal Grand-Mother's front porch and drying clothes. 3. Uncle Zé's dogs guarding the entrance of his rabbit farm.
4. The open wash house. Mother's home village, Trás-Os-Montes, Portugal, 2018

1. Maternal Grand-Mother’s bedroom. 2. A closed chapel in a church, Bragança. Trás-Os-Montes, Portugal, 2018

1. Presuntos hanging from the ceiling. Trás-Os-Montes, Portugal, 2018.

2. Cross of the Chapel on the Hill, Father's home village.