‘Emotional Geography’ by Christopher Gregory-Rivera

What are the mechanics of memory and how do we remember a physical space across generations?

Jennifer Henderson
Witness

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Left: Diente Perro, Loiza, PR | Center: Reza, Loiza, PR | Right: Leña, Loiza, PR © Christopher Gregory-Rivera / 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass

Puerto Rican photographer Christoper Gregory’s 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass project explores memory, nostalgia and the physical spaces of Puerto Rico. It combines photographs taken by his grandfather in the 1950s, during a period of industrialization and decolonization of Puerto Rico, and photographs taken by him in the same places today, using his grandfather’s camera. Christoper explains, “The result is a project that questions the role of images in imagining a country that, transformed by time, perhaps never existed.”

“The work is really trying to both hint at the time passed but also be critical and also in what I’m choosing to photograph, be very specific about the ways that Puerto Rico has changed or the time that has passed. And so I want to point out very specific things in between that I think get what happened in Puerto Rico between this great moment of hope, which is when my grandfather was there on the creation of the Constitution and the first democratic election and what’s happening now, with one of the largest crises in the world.”

Left: Paneles, San Isidro, PR | Right: Zafacón, Cayey, PR © Christopher Gregory-Rivera / 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass

During his work in Puerto Rico, Christoper found himself looking back in time to find answers to the island’s current problems.

“I realized that understanding the state of Puerto Rico perhaps lies less in facts and more in a state of mind or feeling. My project interrogates a personal history and the complicated identity of my family, to give viewers insight into the psychological reality of the oldest colony on earth.”

Top Left: San Isidro, PR | Top Right: Positive Hand Prints, San Isidro, PR | Bottom Left: Tendedero, San Isidro, PR | Bottom Right: Mario, Utuado, PR © Christopher Gregory-Rivera / 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass

In this project, the masterclass theme of ‘Contrast’ can be found in the two complementary bodies of work that make up the story: the photographs taken by his grandfather and the photographs created by him. “Vision and documentation across generations and the contrast they present is a key component of my project.”

“That duality is a powerful tool to communicate complex stories in a way that does justice to the duality of every ‘truth’”, he adds.

Left: Piña, Yabucoa, PR | Right: Eneas, Ciales, PR © Christopher Gregory-Rivera / 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass

Puerto Rican photographer Christoper Gregory focuses his current work on the residue of colonialism in Latin American and the Caribbean. He is particularly interested in the imprint of power and history in current affairs, and his photographic style questions the relationships of power between the photographer and the subject.

When asked about his 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass peers, he says he was most struck by all the similarities:

“I think that the biggest common thing is that we’re really questioning how we’re making images. Some more than others, but I think we’re fundamentally doubtful of how we’ve been making images traditionally. The fact that we’re from different parts of the world illustrates that exact same thing. That’s maybe one of the differences, that we have different challenges coming from different parts of the world, like some of us are dealing with colonialism, some of us are dealing with Western perceptions, some of us are dealing with internal perceptions of our own country.”

The 26th edition of World Press Photo’s Joop Swart Masterclass took place on 17–21 September 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Each year, in preparation for the masterclass, the participants produce a project on one single theme to be discussed during editing sessions with the five masters. This year, the chosen theme was ‘Contrast’. Find out more about the 2019 Joop Swart Masterclass.

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Managing Editor, Witness, World Press Photo Foundation. Share your stories with us by emailing jennifer@worldpressphoto.org.