Description
Romania has a complex history where its people have struggled to claim territory, faced brutal oppression, communist nationalisation, and foreign exploitation of resources and agriculture. The central region of Transylvania was claimed at the end of the First World War, extending the country’s wealth of natural resources from the border with Ukraine to the Danube Valley. Industrialisation increased exponentially from the 1950s to 1980s and the effects had a massive impact on the economy, social progress, and the landscape.
Romanians have been resilient in the face of progress and adversity, and since the fall of communism in 1989 the country has seen an intellectual revival and a return to practicing long-held traditions. For over 15 years in a conflict in Roşia Montană, public administration and environmental organizations have confronted a mining company in a fight to keep their natural environment free from continued over-exploitation.
In The Tree of Life is Eternally Green, Martinez and Saez focus on identity and history from a perspective that transcends socio-political issues, and dispels stereotypes associated with Romanians. Their record is seeped in the natural environment and celebrates Romanian people, their traditions, the untamed landscape and the country’s rich flora.
Design by Tiffany Jones, Pascual Martínez + Vincent Sáez
Illustrations by Minerva Luca
The Author
Pascual Martínez and Vincent Sáez are two Spanish photographers working together as Niñorojo Project. Their focus is on human relations and the study of society through photography as a means of anthropological exploration. In 2014 they began an artistic residency in Bucharest, Romania, working on The Tree of Life is Eternally Green (previously entitled Nature/Citizens), and have exhibited in solo shows in Spain, and in Bucharest and Brasov (Romania). In part the making of this project was supported by grants for foreign cultural journalists awarded by the Romanian Cultural Institute. The Tree of Life is Eternally Green publication was recognised with the 2018 ArtsLibris-Fundació Banc Sabadell Prize, by jury selection at the Arts Libris book fair in Barcelona, and Martínez + Sáez won the Photography Prize of the University of Murcia (2018). Previously this work was selected to exhibit at PHotoEspaña Forum of the Community of Madrid and at PA-TA-TA Festival in Granada (2017), and in the final selection at Barcelona International Photography Awards (2015). Pascual and Vincent studied at the School of Art in Murcia, and combine their work as photographers with teaching, designing and curating photography exhibitions.
www.ninorojo.com
Reviews + Press
“A superbly sequenced photobook, beautifully designed.” – Ola Søndenå, Department of Special Collections, University of Bergen Library
A work of great beauty… The Tree of Life is Eternally Green is a visual gift in the form of a trip through an unknown Romania. A test of what is achieved with effort, courage and much love. – Beatriz S. González, Writer, architect + photographer
The images are raw and deep, with rich colours and quiet moments. We are taken on a sensorial and poetic experience… – Emma Latham Phillips
“A treat for the eyes and the senses” – Escuela de Arte de Murcia
See more
Interview with Loupe Magazine
Feature in It’s Nice That
Review in Float magazine
Feature in Phroom
Interview in METAL magazine (Spanish)
Der Greif Artist feature, selection by Jose David Valiente
Feature in NEO2 (Spanish)
Feature in Aint-Bad
Feature interview in Clavoardiendo Magazine, “We have never put limits on our work” (Spanish)
Feature in Dodho Magazine
Escuela de Arte de Murcia, Review of book presentation (Spanish)
Project feature at PHmuseum
Feature on Scena 9 (Romania, 2016)
Interview with Hispatriados (Spanish, 2015)
Special Notes
See Artists’ Edition Box
* Nominated Unveil’d Photobook Award 2018
* Photography Books to Give this Christmas (2018), Clavoardiendo Magazine
* Photobook considered ‘dear’ to the collection of Gabriela Cendoya-Bergareche 2018
* Publication awarded the ArtsLibris-Fundació Banc Sabadell Prize 2018, jury selection at the Arts Libris book fair in Barcelona
* Martínez + Sáez awarded the XVII Photography Prize of the University of Murcia (2018) for this project
* Selected book, 2018 Athens Photo Festival Photobook Exhibition, 6 June – 29 July at Benaki Museum
* Photo-eye #7 Bestseller for week ending 2 June 2018
* Recipient of two printing awards, from HP Inkspiration and Print Solutions magazine
Exhibitions + Events in 2018
Book presentation at La Fábrica de Hielo, Wednesday 30 May (c/de Pavia, 37, València)
Book presentation at Madrid Book Fair (Feria del Libro de Madrid), for the Romanian Cultural Institute in Romanian pavilion, 3 June at 6.30pm
Book presentation at ArtPhoto BCN (Barcelona), 6 May from 5-6pm in La Capella, (c/ Hospital 56, Barcelona)
ArtsLibris Fair with Art Deal project, 21-23 April at Arts Santa Mònica (La Rambla 7, Barcelona)
Exhibition at Espai Fotografic Can Baste, Sala Cava (Barcelona), 10 March – 21 April
Book presentation at Museum Molinos del Rio (Murcia), 10 April at 19.30
Book presentation at LA FÁBRICA (Madrid), 7 April
Exhibition at Espacio Molinos del Río_Caballerizas Museum (Murcia) 1 February – 3 March
Exhibitions in 2017
PA-TA-TA Festival, Streets of Granada, 19-25 June
PHotoEspaña Forum of the Community of Madrid, at Sala El Águila 5-11 June
Assembly Hall of the Art School of Murcia, 22 February – 22 March
The Tree of Life is Eternally Green is held in the following collections:
AGO Edward P. Taylor Library & Archives (Toronto, CA)
Appalachian State University (Boone, NC, USA)
Banco Sabadell Artists Books Collection (Spain)
École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie (Arles, FR)
Hellenic Centre for Photography (Athens, GR)
San Telmo Museum – The Gabriela Cendoya Bergareche Collection (ES)
Tate Library (London, UK)
The Archives/Peter van Beveren Library at Billytown (Den Haag, NL)
Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design, Parkyn Library (Auckland, NZ)
Yale University Library, USA