Photo © Delmi Alvarez All Rights Reserved
Delmi Alvarez began his long-term documentary photography project entitled, "Galegos na Diáspora" ("Galician diaspora") in 1989. This photographic mission, to be completed this year, portrays the lives of thousands of Galicians now living around the world whose exodus began nearly one hundred years ago. This unique undertaking pays tribute to the emigrants of Galicia who have resettled in Europe, Asia and Oceania, Africa, Russia, and the Americas.
A sneak preview entitled, Global: Galician Diaspora 1989-2009 is now appearing on Gala Photos, an Internet portal comprised of thirty-eight photojournalists from around the world whose mission is to promote quality and diversity in documentary photography.
Deli Alvarez grew up in Vigor, (Galician) where he attended high school. Afterwards, while working his way through the University as an electrician to finance his history and geography studies, he traveled to the Canary Islands and began working as a part-time photographer.
Later he went to London to study English and was employed as a bartender, gardener and photojournalist, and maintained part-time jobs with AP, AFP and REUTERS agencies. Upon his return to Galicia, Delmi began teaching photojournalism workshops in small villages.
In 1991 he spent one year in Cuba completing a documentary project about the life of the Cubans (Cuba, el ultimo bastion, la lucha de un pueblo). In Barcelona, his work was later recognized with a Fotopress award.
During this time, Delmi continued his long-term project and traveled to several continents.
Between 1990 and 1993, Mr. Alvarez also covered the war in Yugoslavia as a correspondent for La Voz de Galicia newspaper. After losing friends who were also covering the war as photojournalists, he decided not to continue war coverage through his lens.
Since his project was never given recognition in his motherland of Galicia, in 2002 Delmi decided to relocate to Latvia "to work with more freedom." Similar to many thousands of Galicians in the diaspora, he dreams of returning to the Terra (land) to live, work and show new generations of photojournalists how to be bear witness to the diverse humanity of the world.
As a filmmaker, he has worked as a cameraman and director/producer. Recent work includes credits on "O rei galego de Africa" for the TVG network (Namibia, 2007-2008).
As part of the "Galegos na Diáspora" himself, Delmi Alvarez has been based in Riga, Latvia since 2002.
A blog of the project can be found on: http://www.galegosnadiaspora.wordpress.com/
and a book, "Galegos na Diáspora", with black and white portraits and text, will offer an inside look into the lives of Galicians around the globe.
Click here to see a more photographs by Delmi Alvarez and please visit us at Gaia Photos, a place to explore and discover the issues facing the diverse population and locations of our world, both near and far. Please subscribe to our continually updated new features page to keep track of new stories too!
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