Please introduce yourself: What is your name, where are you from, what do you do?

I am a photographer and graphic designer born in Lleida, Spain, in 1964, where I currently reside and work. In the early stages of my artistic career during the 1980s, I relied on painting and illustration for my projects. However, my fascination with photography began to emerge in the early 1990s after encountering the works of Robert Frank, Sergio Larrain, and Bernard Plossu—photographers associated with the Beat generation. Their poetic compositions and creative liberty profoundly influenced my perspective on observing and narrating the world.

What is your relationship with photography and how did you get into it?

My work primarily consists of photographic series capturing my strolls through towns, cities, and their outskirts. These are spaces where moments of a certain ‹magical realism› unfold, and I particularly enjoy capturing them. I've always used a reflex camera with a 35mm or 50mm lens, opting for lightweight equipment that facilitates simple photography. The majority of my work is in black and white, as I believe grayscale images convey the essence of what I perceive and aim to communicate.

What are you currently working on, and—if there is—what is your next project or journey?

At the moment, I am undertaking various projects focused on my immediate geographic surroundings. One ongoing project is the Lleida Diary, where I depict the day-to-day life of my hometown. It serves as a visual diary capturing poetic moments, some infused with irony, that unfold on the bustling street stage.

Thank you, Antoni.

Notes

1–11 Antoni Benavente Barbero, Lleida, Spain, 2017.