How did you first get into photography?
I got my 1st camera when I was five. I barely even remember. I always carried a camera and photographed everything. Photography was always my language and my way to communicate with my context. Photography helped me to understand more about myself and about the world.
I started working at a family portrait studio, in my village (Lajeado), while I was studying graphic design there. Later on, I became an assistant at an advertising studio in Porto Alegre, I moved there to study photography.
I gained some experience and after that, I moved again, this time to Sao Paulo to work as a cultural producer, then finally I became a freelancer.
What mainly inspires you in creating your project Imilla?
I met the girls through IG. When I saw the first Imilla image on Instagram I felt right away the urge to know more about them. This is usually my main drive, a need to expand my little personal universe. Then I thought that a photo essay about the girls would be a good opportunity to put together some relevant issues; young women, minorities, identity, ethnography, sports, politics, cultural heritage, and authenticity While breaking some stereotypes.
What does the project say about beauty?
In the western region we have a clear standard of beauty, mainly made by corporations. This has been changing in the last couple of years. One of the issues with those stereotypes is that there’s no room for other types of beauty. Not just the faces, the hair, the body volume, also the fashion, the way of living. Imilla skate has been a great tool to promote certain traditional beauty, which for years excluded and frustrated a huge portion of the Bolivian Society for not being tuned to the western standards.
What do you wish to say about womanhood through your photographic series? How do you choose your subjects?
In Cochabamba I discovered a group of young women, with ideals, that were fighting to break stereotypes in a very patriarcal historical context. I like to believe that I have been able to show a glimpse of that powerful energy that emanates from those girls.
What impact do you want to have with your work?
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