Sebastián Castañeda takes viewers on a spiritual journey to Ayabaca, a town deep in the Peruvian Andes. The original Quechua name means “sanctuary.” Ayabaca has kept the traces and transformations of life here. It is a city of the dead as well as the immortal. “Aya” are the colors of sunset, while “Huaca” represents something revered. Every year, Ayabaca welcomes hundreds of pilgrims from across Peru and its neighboring countries. The pilgrims travel 80 kilometers on foot over the course of three days, following the statue of Señor Cautivo which is brought to the church. The candles, incense, flowers and rugs laid out in the streets transform Ayabaca, which exudes religious devotion. They come seeking forgiveness, inner peace and miracles.
The Christ of Ayabaca is impressive, standing nearly 6 feet tall, his hands folded, his skin dark, his beard and hair long and black, his purple tunic embroidered with golden thread. Legend says that it was sculpted by angels, and the statue has been credited with many miracles, from helping people find work to curing cancer.
Sebastián Castañeda places himself in the midst of the procession, photographing the atmosphere and the pilgrims, braving the intense midday sun and the cold Andean nights. The faithful stop along the road for a few hours of sleep before leaving early the next morning.
This series of 12 photographs tells the story of the religious devotion of the pilgrims. Some carry the heavy wooden cross on their shoulders, while others make the journey on their knees or crawling, as others recite Hail Mary prayers at the top of their lungs to demonstrate their faith.
The black-and-white is a conscious choice. “I think colors distract, they lead the eye astray,” says Castañeda. “With black and white, our attention remains on the picture.” The photographs are high contrast. Their contours and shapes are pure and precise, accentuating the opposition between the earth and heaven.
“Like most Peruvians, I was raised a Catholic. But it’s been a long time since I’ve practiced! I feel a deep admiration for these people and their faith. For me, all religions are equal. I’m only here to document certain religious rituals.”
In February, Castañeda received the POYI Award for Excellence from the University of Missouri journalism department. A few months ago, his report on Iraqi refugee children was exhibited at the Visa pour l’Image festival in Perpignan.
Castañeda plans to publish a book about religious rituals throughout Latin America, including pictures of the pilgrimage of San Lazaro in Cuba and voodoo rituals in Haiti. I am convinced Castañeda has lots of surprises in store for us.
Photographer : Sebastián Castañeda
Project: Refuge of the soul
http://www.sebastiancastaneda.com
