26/01/2009
Vitoria-Gasteiz, January 26, 2009 – Today, Fundación
Catedral Santa María presented photographer-artist Xabi Otero’s book La
mirada de la luz, [The look of light] which portrays nearly a hundred
people who have been linked in a variety of ways to the project to
restore the church in Vitoria during the past eight years.
Navarrese photographer Xabi Otero has been moving among the bowels of
the Old Cathedral in Vitoria for the past two years and there, among
stones, scaffolds and visitors, he made portraits of nearly one hundred
people who have collaborated in the church’s restoration in one way or
another. Archaeologists, stonecutters, architects, guides, workers and
the Fundación’s own staff posed at their workplaces to show the
day-to-day life of an ambitious project that has turned this ailing
building into an emblem of the city.
The volume includes close to 200 snapshots with
brief texts in Spanish, Basque, English and French that provide a new
perspective on this project, in which the entire Alava community is
already involved. This book is a tribute, a small sample. Not everyone
could be included, since hundreds of expert workers have worked on the
cathedral with great devotion and personal effort during these years.
In the author’s opinion, the book is a "document that reflects a brief
stage in the process of the building’s restoration, a tribute to the
people who have taken part in any of its stages by stepping up and
vindicating their responsibility. Their work has generated a delightful
development of knowledge for society; all the participants are key and
form the pillars that will sustain the Old Cathedral".
This book joins a series of
volumes by a number of prestigious photographers who have portrayed the
Santa María Cathedral in Vitoria at one time or another during the
restoration process. Thus, it joins Vari Caramés (En la catedral), Jose
Manuel Navia (Desde la catedral) and Alberto Schommer (Un cuerpo vivo).
Three thousand copies of La mirada de luz have been published. In
addition to bookstores, the book can be purchased at the Cathedral’s
Visitors Reception Centre for €50.
Self-taught graphic designer, photographer and illustrator
Born in Pamplona in 1953, Xabi Otero is a self-taught photographer,
graphic designer, and illustrator who has had the creative urge from
the time he was very young. In 1970, he began to publish his works in
Madrid and five years later embarked on a trip to Africa that would
turn into a long, 5-month journey that made him definitively decide to
dedicate himself to the world of images.
Author of 20 photography books, which notably include his first book
Oihan bat murgildurik, from 1984, Basque farmers in Canada from 1990,
Basque from 2000 and the travel book Sahara, Otero has participated in
77 other volumes, in addition to having made numerous photographic
magazine articles, brochures, album covers, videos, audio-visuals,
calendars, posters, post cards and all types of graphic supports. He is
currently preparing three books of photography that will be coming out
soon.