The Zaragoza native Diego Zapatero, one day decided to take a leap of faith and radically change his life. As they say, he wanted to live his own adventure. To do this, he traveled to Indonesia on a photography scholarship to see what the future had in store for him. After a long journey, this musician with a background in marketing has become a unique visual anthropologist.
Let’s start from the beginning, what is visual anthropology?
Visual anthropology is photojournalism dedicated to traditions or anthropology in general. In other words, it is the branch of photography that specializes in anthropology to create visual documents concerning customs, traditions, rites, cultures, and so on.
Why from Zaragoza to Indonesia?
Why Indonesia? Good question! The truth is I am dedicated to photography, but I am also a musician. Years ago, a bandmate told me that he had spent three months there and it had been an amazing experience. I didn’t even know exactly where Indonesia was, but from that moment on, I kept seeing signs of this country everywhere, and I was filled with an overwhelming desire to go there. Moreover, shortly after, the Expo came to Zaragoza, and I contacted the embassy to learn more. A couple of years later, scholarships were announced for a photography project in Indonesia. As it turns out, I won and went there. I had a normal and very good life here, but I chose to complicate it.
Did you move to Indonesia?
I left, took the plunge, and left absolutely everything behind. The beginning was tough because a month after I arrived, one of the many Indonesian volcanoes erupted, one of the most dangerous in the so-called Ring of Fire. In fact, it left over 300 dead. But as a photographer, it was a good test. While people were fleeing from the volcano, I approached to do photojournalism. It was quite a dangerous adventure, and somewhat selfish because later I concluded that life belongs to you and also to those who love you.
What a start! Please tell us more.
Then I started doing photojournalism in demonstrations and certain social issues. But for a foreigner, that was almost more dangerous than the volcano due to the political control that exists. So, I took my photography teacher’s advice and focused more on cultural topics. Finally, I found my path on an expedition I made to Borneo, famous for, among other things, headhunters. Since then, I have dedicated myself to anthropology.
As a result, you have published two books so far, right?
Back in Java, where I lived, I started seeing many shops with masks, but… where do they come from? Because I had never seen them before, and then I discovered that they were part of an almost extinct dance. I decided to investigate it and found three communities that maintained the entire ritual. With them, I created my first photo book titled The Last Breath of the Prince.
Which can be translated as «the last breath of the prince.»
Yes. In the ritual with the dance and the masks, a love legend in the style of Romeo and Juliet is recreated, but with an Indonesian twist and a happy ending. The story is a typical Javanese tale, and with the book, I contributed to keeping it alive and preventing it from being lost, at least for now. For that reason, it was recognized by the National Gallery of Indonesia.
That encouraged you to continue, and you recently published a second work titled Malangan.
In another area, I discovered up to 12 communities that maintained this mask dance. I documented it for three years, first gathering all the information, locating, contacting people, and all that. Finally, as a visual anthropologist, I had to go to each community to photograph them. I did this traveling 2,000 kilometers along roads and paths in 12 days, arriving at each place, setting up my portable photography studio, and involving the locals in the project to pose for me.
A work that you then turned into a completely handcrafted photo book.
Yes, handmade, with drawings and illustrations to understand the rite and its significance. With maps to follow my expedition. With texts to understand this special cultural manifestation. And of course, with the photos arranged one by one. But not only that; it is a book that also has a scent. I literally wanted to scent it so that it would transport us to those latitudes.
You must be satisfied with your work?
Very much, but I am not done yet. My project is to create a pentalogy on this theme. I still have three more photo books to make.
Do you have any help to achieve this?
No, absolutely none. Neither from here nor there. But I have turned it into my life project. I just hope to speed up the pace because nine years have passed between the first and the second.
Speaking of Aragonese and Indonesians, how are you received over there?
They are very welcoming people and they also have a great sense of humor. For people like us, Latinos, it is easy to relate. Moreover, the first contact is very easy because they always smile. It is their philosophy of life.
But besides smiling, you also need to communicate. How do you manage to understand each other?
I speak Indonesian. I studied it before going and continued learning there. Later, when I settled in Java, I learned Javanese, which is different and somewhat more complex.
Admirable; we can only encourage you to continue with your project. What’s the next part?
Well, I have to go to Bali and also to Madura Island, which is somewhat dangerous. So it will be fun to continue with this visual anthropology.
We wish you lots of luck and hope that you receive some financial support to continue with your endeavor.
