Jonathan Martinez de León
What does ‘VIDA AL BORDE’ mean to you?
As an artist, living on the edge is something that is always present, because of the countless difficulties that arise on a daily basis, especially as a young artist, with no exposure whatsoever, and in a place where young art is not sufficiently exhibited. For me, living on the edge as an artist means pushing my abilities and the opportunities that come my way to their limits, so that my work can transcend; showing people what I see through what I do, through what
I am passionate about. Living on the edge is a constant state for any artist, especially for young artists.
In what way does your photographic project relate to the cultural context of the place where you live?
My photographic project has a direct connection to the social and cultural reality of the city where I live. My photography primarily seeks to build a bridge for people who have things to say and have never had a voice, and who dare to be themselves in front of my lens. My work aims to tell stories and to connect people who do not necessarily share the same beliefs or ways of thinking, or who do not come from the same backgrounds.
What does it mean to be a young artist within your own social and cultural context?
Being a young artist in Habana, both from within and even from the outside, is a titanic task. The scarcity of resources and the lack of spaces to exhibit your work without having an established name or trajectory make the process extremely difficult. Very, very few people truly value and recognize the effort a young artist makes to accomplish their mission, whatever that mission may be.
Which spaces in your city inspire you?
La Habana is a city full of history, and no two stories are the same. Every day you encounter something new, new people, places you would never imagine could exist, yet there they are, forming part of someone’s everyday life. I am inspired by places that are not often visited, spaces where people have no voice and live in constant transformation and struggle to survive in such a profoundly complex place. And of course, my eternal Malecón, my favorite place, a site of thousands and thousands of stories, both painful and joyful, that never cease to surprise me.
Is there one you remember as being especially significant for your photographic vision?
One day I went out with my camera in hand but without any desire to do anything. My mind was empty, with no clear ideas,only an overwhelming sadness, because that very day I had lost my grandmother. Taking photographs was what helped distance me, even slightly, from dark thoughts during such a difficult moment. I walked and walked without taking a single shot, and along the way I met someone who was going through exactly the same thing as I was, but with a much more pessimistic view of what it meant to lose a loved one. What surprised me most was that I was almost twice that child’s age. From that moment on, I knew the Malecón was my place, the place I wanted to return to again and again, in search of stories.
The archive is a powerful light for any artist who lacks visibility and wants to be seen without having a long trajectory or a well-known name. The objective of the project goes hand in hand with the interests of any young artist, not only those who want to be photographers. Very few people have considered that young artists, too, have the right to be heard.
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