Antonio Aragón Renuncio
I am a spanish documentary photographer. Since the mid-90s I have always been involved with photography: Founded and Chairs “Nostromo” Photographers Association (Spain). Photography Professor (+17 years) in several universities. Publisher in Xplorer Magazine (Nicaragua). General Manager Xtreme PhotoWS (Burkina Faso). Freelance photographer for several International News Agencies. Organize/direct the Solidarity Photography Days (Spain). I write about photography and publishes reportages across digital and print international media
ARTIST STATEMENT – A World Connected
A connected world. Without barriers… _A place where we share our feelings, dreams and good intentions. A world full of joy, light and color… _A world without distinction of race, religion or social class. A world without disease, suffering or disability… _In this utopian dream that some of us are eager to build in the near future, we will all be equal, and of course, we will be able to photograph it.
It will be full of laughter and happy children. It will be full of vibrant colors and contrasting blacks and whites. A connected world full of photographs. Images, like these, in which children will always be children, regardless of their origin, social status or ability. That is the connected world I strive for… Smiles. Noisy joy. Pure happiness… _
Children with disabilities (especially girls) are at high risk of physical, emotional, abandonment and sexual abuse. Their communities believe that their disabilities are a divine punishment, the result of their parents’ sins, an act of the devil, or that the child is a sorcerer. These minors are considered “supernatural”, “strangers” or “demons”. In some areas of Africa, children with cerebral palsy are known as “snakes”, as they lie on the ground. These kids are drowned in the river in rituals “so that the snake will go away”.
Meanwhile, here at Don Orione Center, a group of children spend their long days of rehabilitation after complicated surgeries, anxiously awaiting their new orthopedic devices that will finally allow them to leave the “floor” and manage on their own without problems. A long-awaited starting line for the great race to a new life full of peace and hope…
- Spain
