JOCHI MELERO: COASTAL PORTRAITS
On an island often depicted as a place of saturated colors and bright, sunny days, Jochi Melero has chosen to use black and white photography to capture both the landscape and the personalities of his fellow Boricuas.
IMAGES AND TEXTS BY JOCHI MELERO.
A portrait captures an anticipation of something in a face, and offers an explanation. This explanation often relates to the essence of the person portrayed or what I see of myself in them, establishing a connection. It prompts me to consider which aspects of myself are reflected in the human geography before me.
Color can sometimes alter the essence of a form; it adds elements. Black and white strips away any added value, bringing you closer to the essence of what's before you. This is why I find the precision and simplicity of black and white more appealing. Less is more, and less is better.
I gather physical information that reveals insights into a person's inner world, whether I know them or not, because the method is always the same. It is designed to incite awareness and wonder, allowing us to discover previously unseen aspects that ultimately bring something new to light.
When a subject realizes the impact of how one handles the situation and the dynamics involved, wonderful things begin to emerge. This happens because the person starts to give more, feeling that their actions are meaningful and that their true self is being respected, without pretense, interpretation, or manipulation. What we have in front of us will always be more wonderful and more poetically powerful than what we want it to be.
And you always have the sea. The sea will always be there, a recurring theme, something unavoidable, seeing the sea or being near it. It is a powerful presence that interconnects everything in Puerto Rico and among Puerto Ricans. While we also have mountains as reference points, the sea is more than a natural barrier; it is a source of many things—a source of peace, tranquility, and adventure. Its presence is continuously giving, like a great mother that surrounds us.
