Daniel Casanovas wins the Young Photographer Award

Daniel Casanovas wins the Young Photographer Award from INSPAI with a photo reportage on social criticism of the Western view of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sorrow, poverty, war, ignorance, hunger, savagery, violence, triviality, illiteracy. The Western perspective has become trapped in a stereotyped and prejudiced image of the African continent. In this way, it is marginalized in relation to our way of life.

“Nparanpare” means beautiful/handsome in Sarahulle, the language spoken in the small village of Boulembou. Anchored in rural tradition in the middle of the Senegalese savannah. It is at located 30 km from Gambia and a two-hour drive from the nearest city with a supermarket. Despite this, the village lives a happy routine life; there are no surprises or high expectations, but this is not viewed with sadness or despair, rather as a quiet ignorance that brings about daily smiles.

This report aims to be a critique of the Western view of Sub-Saharan Africa. A warning voice that shows that this continent is not a homogeneous mass; not everything is war, not everything is hunger, not everything is sadness. With this work, I want to try to change this preconceived idea and show the reality that I have experienced in an Africa of happiness.

The INSPAI Prize

INSPAI, the Center for Image of the Girona Provincial Council, promoter of Young Photographers, will organize an exhibition with these images, publish a catalog, and present it on June 28th at the Casa de Cultura de la Diputació de Girona. Subsequently, the exhibition will be integrated into the itinerary of exhibitions. Which are organized by the Provincial Council to offer it to all Girona municipalities that request it.

In addition, the exhibition will also be part of photographic contests and festivals. Such as the Off Festival 2018 in Perpignan, Imaginària, in Castelló de la Plana, the Biennal Olot-photography- and the Mirades Festival in Torroella de Montgrí, among others. Once this journey is completed, the exhibition will have a virtual space on the INSPAI website.

Congratulations, Daniel!