Lost Souls

Lost Souls is a metaphorical journey through the atmosphere and problems of Galicia, located in westernmost Europe; nostalgia, abandonment, emigration, poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, social rejection, exclusion, disputes among neighbors, forest fires, traditional customs and dualisms such as oppression-domination are the main topics of this project.

Nestled in the lush landscapes of Galicia, a woman adorned in traditional Galician attire gazes upon a meadow from the edge of a wooded enclave. The vibrant vegetation, a testament to Galicia's historical abundance of rainfall, unfolds before her. In this moment, the essence of Galicia's enduring green legacy, shaped by perennial rains that have blessed the region, is embodied in the serene silhouette of a woman in the timeless connection with nature that characterizes the people of Galicia. Curbián, 2023.

Near the town of Aceredo, a decision was made in the 90s to dam a river and create a reservoir. This led to the submersion of several villages, forcing their inhabitants to seek livelihoods elsewhere, exacerbating the persistent issue of emigration in Galicia. The remnants of a demolished house in one of these villages serve as a haunting reminder of the neglect that has befallen the entire region. Aceredo, 2022.

Galicia has experienced an endemic problem of forest fires for decades, with severe consequences for the environment, the economy, and the safety of local communities. This issue has also impacted variations in river flows and reservoirs and contributed to drought. The mobilization of animals to smaller forest areas due to wildfires has triggered negative consequences for the ecosystem, such as increased stress on wildlife, and changes in their behavior, reproduction, and overall health. The concentration of animals in smaller areas also hinders the natural regeneration of the forest. Overgrazing and continuous pressure on vegetation can impede ecosystem recovery. Sabucedo, 2023.

Tony used to arrive home with nuts, claiming that his girlfriend, Rosemary, had given them to him. However, Rosemary only existed in his mind. Tony resides in Atas, a small remote village on the border between Galicia and Portugal, not far from Lindoso Reservoir. He grew up with alcoholic parents and, unfortunately, became an alcoholic himself. He lost one eye while intoxicated. The depression in the area, the lack of job opportunities, and the communication difficulties made it even more challenging for him to leave. Atás, 2022.

A half-flooded house that seems to be sailing in the reservoir seems to me a ghost of what once was in that place. The passage of time, which leaves only memories in this area, may one day heal all the pain caused by the abandonments derived from the emigrations of yesteryear. O Bao, 2022.

The 'matanza do porco' is an ingrained tradition in Galicia, where rural families used to slaughter pigs to obtain essential meat products. Although historically a vital subsistence practice in rural life, it is currently prohibited due to health and animal welfare regulations. This process not only provided food for the entire year but also served as a social event that brought the community together. Despite its prohibition, some locals still maintain the practice in a more limited and clandestine manner, thus preserving a part of Galicia's rich cultural heritage. Atás, 2023.

Lindoso Reservoir caused many villages to be submerged, forcing their inhabitants to seek livelihoods elsewhere and perpetuating the endemic emigration problem in the area. The remains of an almost destroyed bridge serve as a reminder of the Christian concept of the bridge to hell. In Galicia, the Christian religion remains deeply ingrained, and the 'Bridge to Hell' is known as a metaphorical bridge separating the world of the living from the world of the dead. All souls must cross this bridge after death. It is not a physical structure but a rhetorical device that evokes the idea of a path or decision leading to negative or disastrous consequences. This expression is used to illustrate the severity of a situation or the detrimental potential of certain actions. A Reloeira, 2023.

Beliefs in the supernatural intertwine with the everyday life on the border between Galicia and Portugal. The celebration of Montalegre's 'Sesta 13,' with its myths and legends, delves into the ancestral roots of witches and monsters in rural Galicia. This place is imbued with stories that weave into the Galician mythology, where witches conducted rituals and mysterious creatures were said to inhabit the shadows. Connection with concepts of life after death manifests in the atmosphere of this celebration, suggesting the idea of a threshold between the world of the living and the realm of the unknown. Rural Galicia, with its solitary landscapes and dense forests, becomes a fitting backdrop for these narratives that explore the boundaries between life and death. Montalegre, 2023.