Miradas ocultas
Raúl de Valle, inspired by a photography of Matías Rojas Silva
Raúl de Valle, 18 years old.
Lost his right eye due to a rubber bullet impact, shot by Carabineros de Chile on 22.10.2019.
Lost his right eye due to a rubber bullet impact, shot by Carabineros de Chile on 22.10.2019.
"I've been using both eyes my whole life, and to lose vision means getting used to having to turn my head more, for example. I have adapted well with the bike, I love cycling and I wasn't going to drop it either.
My message is to just continue, continue with more desire than ever. With due caution, because the cops are messing with people and are not respecting anything. With proper precautions, continue."
My message is to just continue, continue with more desire than ever. With due caution, because the cops are messing with people and are not respecting anything. With proper precautions, continue."
In mid-October 2019, Chile started to protest across the nation, demanding dramatic reforms to the country's social, healthcare and pension system.
According to the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), the excessive use of force, rubber bullets and teargas by security forces has left over 3.746 injured. Especially the eyes are targeted by security forces, against every protocol. Over 427 eyes were injured, leading to partial or total loss of sight.
This extreme high number of severe ocular traumata has become a symbol for protesters and it has not stopped them to face the excessive repression and systematic violence of Carabineros till this day.
This extreme high number of severe ocular traumata has become a symbol for protesters and it has not stopped them to face the excessive repression and systematic violence of Carabineros till this day.
In order to support and pay tribute to the protesters and raise awareness in my community, I started a series of portraits of said Chileans. All of the works are based on collaborations with on-site photographers, granting her permission to use their images and reinterpret them.
Miradas Ocultas the title of this ongoing series translates from Spanish to Hidden Looks or Dark looks.
