PHotoEspaña and OjodePez Magazine announce the winning work of the 7th edition the PHE OjodePez Award for Human Values, with which they recognize a work of documentary photography that should emphasize the values of solidarity, ethics, justice or effort. The prize consists of 2.000 Euros, the possibility to participate in an exhibition around FNAC centers in Spain and Portugal, and the publication of the winning series in the special Autumn issue of OjodePez Magazine.
The winner of the 7th edition of the 2014 PHE OjodePez Award for Human Values is the Spanish photographer Aitor Lara (Spain, 1974) for his series Children in Poverty in Spain. The project has been carried out in different neighborhoods and children’s social centers of Seville and Madrid to illustrate the document Child Poverty in Spain presented by the NGO Save the Children in 2014.
The jury has emphasized that «the work is consistent and related to theme and the quality stands out for personal vision and style, and the deep respect for the subject matter. The series relates to the contemporary situation in Spain and reflects the critical moment of the country in a non -stereotypical way by looking at the collateral effects and not simply what the headlines indicate». The jury was made up of Carine Dolek from Fetart/Circulations; Erik Vroons from GUP magazine; Mauro Bedoni from COLORS magazine; Diego Orlando from BURN magazine; and Arianna Rinaldo from OjodePez.
«The stories reflected in the photographs answer to a problem that affects today 2,826,549 children in Spain: poverty and social exclusion. Children in Spain are citizens of the present and an important key in the future of this country, society must be aware at all levels of the seriousness of the matter. The economic crisis has exposed many families to a decrease in income, that triggered the indicators of poverty and social exclusion. It is a serious situation that arises in children´s daily life, and becomes an obstacle to the enjoyment and exercise of basic rights (housing, food, education, health, etc.) under the Convention on the Rights of the Child» Aitor Lara explains.
About Aitor Lara
He addresses issues related to sociocultural values, identity and anonymity, suggesting ways to interpret contemporary realities. He has worked in differents countries bringing to light the anthropological dimensions of social minorities such as indigenous peoples, sex workers, etc.
His professional career began in 1999 upon receiving the photography award from Spanish gallerist Juana de Aizpuru, and showing his work in international photography fairs such as ARCO and ParisPhoto. In 2004, he receives the research grant Ruy de Clavijo from the Casa Asia program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain to carry out a project in Uzbekistan. This work resulted in the publication of the book Tower of Silence in 2008. He also published the book Maestranza, a photographic report about the bullring of Seville. This work was exhibited in large format in the facade of the FNAC building in Seville. In 2010, he participated in the OjodePez Photo Meeting Barcelona. He has published in magazines such as NewsWeek, Financial Times, OjodePez or Vokrug Sveta. In 2012, he published the book Ronda Goyesca edited by La Fábrica. He was a nominee of the Magnum Foundation Emergency Fund Grant in 2012.
In 2013, Aitor Lara carried out an assignment by Save the Children to document the situation of Children in Poverty in Spain. He also received the Endesa Grant to carry out the project Dragoman.
