Juan Rodríguez Morales
Juan Rodríguez Morales
Ghost World
136 pages
29 x 22 cm
Hardback
2023
About the Book:
Edited by Calma y sosiego, the book gathers a selection of photographs taken from 2013 to 2023 “with an aesthetic style and artistic approach” influenced by documentary photography in the streets of Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes. Photographer Juan Rodríguez Morales culminates with the edition of his first book Ghost World an artistic project that, coinciding with his predilection for street photography, imbues with “emotional resonance” an urban landscape -that of Alcobendas and San Sebastián de los Reyes- marked by dehumanization, boredom and melancholy. The author proposes in this publication, edited by Calma y sosiego, with enormous “honesty” a journey by two urban worlds differentiated in their denomination, but identical in their urban fabric marked by the denaturalization of a society, inert with hardly any community links, in which, despite an insurmountable drift, the human being fights against his individualization.
Book review by Sage Helene |
In Ghost World, Juan Rodríguez Morales delves into the nuanced landscape of suburban life. His book, published in December 2023 by the Spanish publishing house Calma y sosiego Ediciones, documents the lives of residents in Alcobendas and nearby San Sebastián de los Reyes, who are caught in a limbo between the liveliness of urban life and the stagnation often associated with growing up on the outskirts. This duality permeates the book: vibrant colors contrast against desolate scenes, documenting what remains of these communities. Morales observes that while these towns boast a commendable quality of life, they often feel empty—places where life seems to be passing by, and the presence of life is diminishing.
Morales’ book takes its name from Daniel Clowes’ comic of the same title, drawing parallels between the comic’s portrayal of a dull American suburb and the photographer’s life growing up in Alcobendas. The project began in 2013, driven by a desire to explore and document life within these liminal spaces. Morales has witnessed significant changes over his lifetime, noting a slow decline since the economic boom of the mid-2000s. These shifts are reflected in the imagery, where Morales presents a real-life ghost town.
In many of his photographs, Morales explores the interplay of light and shadow. Even in his portraits, seeing the fullness of a person’s face is rare. For instance, one photograph shows a blonde woman sitting alone in a seemingly vacant restaurant. Even in the spotlight of the sun, we are only given a glimpse of her face. Another image reveals someone standing among red chairs behind a windowpane, with sunlight illuminating only the lower half, causing the figure to almost blend into the setting with the matching red shirt.
Some portraits carry an even greater sense of ambiguity. One image features a mysterious woman walking past a white column, creating the impression that she is vanishing behind the wall, ultimately emphasizing that the residents are silently fading away as well. “From the beginning, it was clear to me that it was essential to show the inhabitants of the city I wanted to portray,” says Morales. During the decade he took to complete this book, Morales’ approach evolved; while the early focus was on capturing people, his later images began to emphasize the exchange between individuals and their homes, subtly suggesting a lingering presence of humanity even in their absence.
A key theme in Ghost World is the steady decline of economic vitality and life in these areas. This idea is illustrated in the photograph of a man’s hand reaching over the white textured panels bordering a now permanently closed store. “During the eleven years that I have dedicated to this project, I have seen a slow and gradual decline. I have seen how new buildings have been built and others have been demolished. There are photos showing areas of countryside that no longer exist and emblematic trees that have disappeared,” Morales states. This juxtaposition of spirit and decay resonates deeply in the photographs, where color plays a pivotal role in shaping the atmosphere.
Even among the muted tones, Morales finds the saturation that life emanates. For example, the photograph of a young boy standing far away behind a tall wired gate. Even in the distance, the bright yellow t-shirt he is wearing stands out against the grey.
Morales describes his process as wandering the streets and revisiting places until he sees the perfect moment to open his shutter. “I am not a ‘decisive moment’ photographer. The combination of people and their environment is what can best convey that feeling of melancholy and boredom. This intimate connection to the surroundings allows for a genuine representation of the feelings associated with them,” he explains. His work illustrates a commonality shared by small suburbs worldwide, embodying the quietness that pervades these still-life-like towns.
Ghost World invites viewers to ponder the intricate and often alienating suburban existence. Through his lens, Morales encourages us to appreciate the human simplicity found within the ordinary and the existential silence that defines so many of our shared spaces.
