January first, 1911, record of Policarpo Pintaluba, newly arrived in the city of Armadillo. With just a few dollars, my camera, and my small diary that couldn't withstand the last of my adventures, my old records from Brazil were burned. Oh, if only I had gone into farming with my father.
( January first, 1911, record of Policarpo Pintaluba, newly arrived in the city of Armadillo. With just a few dollars, my camera, and my small diary that couldn't withstand the last of my adventures, my old records from Brazil were burned. Oh, if only I had gone into farming with my father)
I arrived in Armadillo, thinking that upon reaching North America, I would encounter a highly advanced civilization in terms of innovations. But I believe my Northern brethren also face the same dilemmas as us: plagues that kill us, people seizing land from one another, homeless men trying to profit off of aimless men.
My raft barely arrived on these hot and dry lands, with sand that stings my eyes with coarse and rough grains, and I come across a cholera outbreak. Oh yes, I barely escaped one outbreak in Brazil and now I encounter another one here, people buried without a proper funeral, all from the same family sharing a single grave. People didn't cry; I suppose it's become natural to mourn for one's dead due to something invisible. It's not a good time to be here.
(I arrived in Armadillo, thinking that upon reaching North America, I would encounter a highly advanced civilization in terms of innovations. But I believe my Northern brethren also face the same dilemmas as us: plagues that kill us, people seizing land from one another, homeless men trying to profit off of aimless men.)
(My raft barely arrived on these hot and dry lands, with sand that stings my eyes with coarse and rough grains, and I come across a cholera outbreak. Oh yes, I barely escaped one outbreak in Brazil and now I encounter another one here, people buried without a proper funeral, all from the same family sharing a single grave. People didn't cry; I suppose it's become natural to mourn for one's dead due to something invisible. It's not a good time to be here.)
I tried to capture the sadness of the burning of an entire family's furniture, at this moment, as if God were crying for his children, a gentle rain fell on a land that seemed to have forgotten what the tears of the great father were like. I didn't want to find this situation poetic because it's morbid, sad.
(I tried to capture the sadness of the burning of an entire family's furniture, at this moment, as if God were crying for his children, a gentle rain fell on a land that seemed to have forgotten what the tears of the great father were like. I didn't want to find this situation poetic because it's morbid, sad.)
I saw a man shouting at the top of his lungs that the cholera outbreak was killing everyone, measures needed to be taken, it seemed like no one was safe. May God have mercy on these souls.
(I saw a man shouting at the top of his lungs that the cholera outbreak was killing everyone, measures needed to be taken, it seemed like no one was safe. May God have mercy on these souls.)
This is me trying to capture a self-portrait of this. Taking a self-portrait is hard; there are many artists who manage it with some perfection, I find it incredibly complicated. Once I positioned my old camera on a tree stump, a mischievous kid hit it with his soccer ball, it fell and caused immense damage. Naughty children. I think children are all the same in different cultures.
(This is me trying to capture a self-portrait of this. Taking a self-portrait is hard; there are many artists who manage it with some perfection, I find it incredibly complicated. Once I positioned my old camera on a tree stump, a mischievous kid hit it with his soccer ball, it fell and caused immense damage. Naughty children. I think children are all the same in different cultures.)
A bartender caught my attention; he had a stern look and eyed me from head to toe, even in a vast dimness, he seemed to have a light that could discern the desires and regrets of my soul. He seemed not to want me here, not out of antipathy, but to not be just another among many.
(A bartender caught my attention; he had a stern look and eyed me from head to toe, even in a vast dimness, he seemed to have a light that could discern the desires and regrets of my soul. He seemed not to want me here, not out of antipathy, but to not be just another among many.)
A wife weeps for her husband; she too wasn't well. She tilted her head from side to side as if it were too heavy. Her belly seemed contracted, as if in terrible cramps. It wasn't clear if the weeping still belonged to the fond happiness of yore or to the pain of knowing that at any moment it could succumb
(A wife weeps for her husband; she too wasn't well. She tilted her head from side to side as if it were too heavy. Her belly seemed contracted, as if in terrible cramps. It wasn't clear if the weeping still belonged to the fond happiness of yore or to the pain of knowing that at any moment it could succumb)
As day faded into night, I saw a man walking with difficulty. He saw me, noticed my sad face, smiled, and waved his hand. Then, he punched his chest so hard I thought it might be his last, and he vomited profusely. With the remaining strength he had, he walked towards me and in a jesting tone said, 'I hope I look handsome in your record; I didn't have time for a bath.
(As day faded into night, I saw a man walking with difficulty. He saw me, noticed my sad face, smiled, and waved his hand. Then, he punched his chest so hard I thought it might be his last, and he vomited profusely. With the remaining strength he had, he walked towards me and in a jesting tone said, 'I hope I look handsome in your record; I didn't have time for a bath.)
A Brazilian prayer:
"Querida Mãe Nossa Senhora Aparecida,
Vós que nos amais e nos guiais todos os dias,
Vós que sois a mais bela das Mães, a quem eu amo de todo o meu coração.
Eu Vos peço mais uma vez que me ajude a alcançar uma graça.
Sei que me ajudará e sei que me acompanhará sempre, até a hora da minha morte."
A Brazilian prayer:
"Querida Mãe Nossa Senhora Aparecida,
Vós que nos amais e nos guiais todos os dias,
Vós que sois a mais bela das Mães, a quem eu amo de todo o meu coração.
Eu Vos peço mais uma vez que me ajude a alcançar uma graça.
Sei que me ajudará e sei que me acompanhará sempre, até a hora da minha morte."
I had approached a father and son, had said that I wasn't from the town but would like to help in some way. The gentleman was burying his daughter, wife, and brother. He said it wasn't necessary, unless I had the cure within my lens. If only I could.
(I had approached a father and son, had said that I wasn't from the town but would like to help in some way. The gentleman was burying his daughter, wife, and brother. He said it wasn't necessary, unless I had the cure within my lens. If only I could.)
They kindly lent me their mule; she doesn't have an exact name. I don't want to call her just 'mule'; she's quite beautiful. I'll have to find the creativity to come up with a name for this brave animal. I prefer horses, but I don't fall for the notion that horses climb hills.
(They kindly lent me their mule; she doesn't have an exact name. I don't want to call her just 'mule'; she's quite beautiful. I'll have to find the creativity to come up with a name for this brave animal. I prefer horses, but I don't fall for the notion that horses climb hills.)
I was watching a man dragging a body; he wore a hat, a scarf covering his face from the nose down, with tattered clothes, and when I approached, he seemed not to care. I started taking some photographs until he struck a match. That's when I realized a pile of bodies was burning in front of me. He just coughed and said, 'I'm a sick undertaker, son. Don't waste your time with me.
(I was watching a man dragging a body; he wore a hat, a scarf covering his face from the nose down, with tattered clothes, and when I approached, he seemed not to care. I started taking some photographs until he struck a match. That's when I realized a pile of bodies was burning in front of me. He just coughed and said, 'I'm a sick undertaker, son. Don't waste your time with me.)
I will never forget the soullessness those eyes had, when admiring the horizon
