Ana Lía Orézolli: Photography as an Act of Resistance
Text by Oman Morí
The surrealist movement viewed the camera as a tool for exploring our innermost and unconscious desires. By capturing images without premeditation, and approaching photography with a childlike wonder, they believed they could not only come to know themselves but also find catharsis in the process. Simultaneously, the act of unleashing the free flow of dreams became paramount. During the pandemic, when finding a secure mental space seemed elusive, the feeling of uncertainty left us exposed and vulnerable. For many photographers, the camera became the most secure and certain means of seeking shelter and establishing a direct and uncomplicated connection, where inhibitions could be shed, and the creation of an alternative reality offered a refuge.
This became the driving force behind the work of Peruvian photographer Ana Lía Orézolli, who has recently published her book, "Un cuerpo escupe al sol" (2023). It's a collection of images created during the relentless pandemic era, complemented by texts from a dream diary she maintained during that time. The book represents an abstract and playful experiment in colors and textures, unveiling an alternative and evocative reality to the one we were experiencing.
Ana Lía Orézolli states, "I turn to photography as a realm to play, invent a place, a refuge, a fantasy." The physical and mental vulnerability of the situation compelled her to use photography as a tool for resistance. She shares, "During confinement, I felt that my body was something that caused me pain and could easily shatter. I began creating these images as an act of resistance to the violence I was experiencing." The texts incorporated into the publication serve as a means of resilience and the construction of an alternate world, outside the boundaries of our homes. These written dreams are woven together like a collage or exquisite cadaver, uniting the images in a quest for healing. As humans, we gain consciousness by distinguishing the outside world from our inner world, thereby creating the 'self' and imagining things that did not exist before. Ana Lía uses her camera to introspect, delving into herself to craft this realm of fantasy.
The word 'imagine' originates from 'forming a mental image.' It embodies a human quality, a myth, and a legend. To imagine is to create an image, a form of storytelling. It's a process of sketching pathways and then erasing them, utilizing time to craft a space. Ana Lía's process involves experimenting and sometimes failing in each endeavor, yet this very experimentation is where the essence of her art resides.
For more information about Ana Lía Orézolli's book, please visit the artist's website or social media.
