The Swallow Rock

Here, the living remember the dead, and the dead live on.

I know this village. I grew up there, I go back there regularly, and it has become my anchor.

Yet I feel like a stranger there ever since I left it many years ago.
Guided by this feeling, I undertook a photographic project to reclaim its rough edges, its history, and my own memories.

As I explored the area, I rediscovered the isolation I had left behind. The new residents come here to seek solitude—either to escape the hustle and bustle of the city or out of necessity, in order to find housing that fits their financial situation. The story continues, then, since the founding of this village in the Southwest—established in the 13th century by the Queen of England—is intimately linked to uprooting and the phenomenon of repopulation.

Many have left as well, just like me. And sometimes, those who have stayed see their original dreams fade away. Striking a balance between distance and intimacy, I thus attempt to paint a nuanced portrait of this region, shaped by a strong local culture but also by the economic realities driving rural and urban exodus.