Silence

PH21 Gallery invited photographers interested in sharing their experiences of silence with a global audience. The theme is broadly construed without any genre restrictions as the jurors sought all possible creative interpretations.​

As explained by the gallery, “silence is always juxtaposed against its opposites: sound, noise, and loudness. It is strongly associated with loneliness, alienation, and unknown or disturbing landscapes on the one hand, and known tranquility and peace on the other. Photographically, the contrast between deep darkness and dazzling light is also crucial. After natural or social catastrophes, everything falls silent: empty cities, villages, abandoned public transport and empty workplaces serve as reminders of the transience and fragility of humankind. Silence is accompanied by quiet activities such as contemplation and meditation, which negate the very nature of action itself. Additionally, silence is often present in still lifes, cityscapes, portraits, and many other photographic genres.”

Xiomaro’s Going Home is a moody composition created in 2018 in which a solitary figure in near-silhouette appears on a foggy street as ghostly orbs of light hover overhead. The figure is actually his wife with dots of Christmas lights visible off to her left. It was an unsettling day: the holiday fell midweek, forcing a return to work on Friday, only two years after their adult daughter had died from an accidental drug overdose following years of struggle with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Zsolt Bátori, PhD, Director of the gallery, commented that “we are honored to exhibit your work. The competition was especially strong this time, so being selected is a significant achievement.” This exhibition will be showcased in PH21 Gallery’s beautiful new venue, situated in the heart of Barcelona’s historic Gothic Quarter.

All photographs are available for exhibition and purchase. Contact Xiomaro