Urbanautica

DANIEL FLEITAS GARCÍA. A GATEWAY TO PALM-LAND

by Steve Bisson

Tell us about the project “Endémico” selected for the Urbanautica Institute Awards? What is the motivation and the theme you addressed?

Daniel Fleitas García (DFG): "Endémico" approaches the encounter using the palm tree as a symbol. The series is based on something that we could call mutual rescue, where the palm tree in a deplorable state speaks of us, not only because of the obvious carelessness, but also of how we are capable of forgetting and continuing with our lives. At first I considered approaching this work with a typological aesthetic. But, since I’m neither Bernd nor Hilla Becher hehe, I’ve decided to play with whatever the place asks of me. Right now, on the island where I live, Lanzarote, there are many open spaces and sometimes this means different compositional decisions for me among other images that I already have. But, I keep trying, I’m not in a hurry, the photographs will tell me something, right?

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

How does this work fit in your identity statement as a photographer and if relates any with your previous works?

I find this question very interesting. Since I started photography again, I have felt that I have had a somewhat radical point of view when it comes to making projects, or at least that attitude. I remember that the first photographer I knew of his work was William Eggleston, I still admire him, although perhaps in a different way, but at that time for me it was a response to the feeling I have of what we live in today, where everything it has to be justified and it has to be “conceptual” and with all the clichés of the contemporary. I recognize that it is that moment, and more coming from punk music, this attitude felt pretentious and of course, William Eggleston was my savior. I say this, because I still feel that somehow I still work like this, I’m not afraid to take a picture of whatever attracts me. There will already be room for that image somewhere.There will already be room for that image somewhere. Right now, it is true that having met other photographers that I admire and who approach photography from another place, my thinking has been mutating so that at some point I think of some images as a series, because the images ask for it.

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

From a methodological point of view, what is your approach to the medium ? How do you envision or conceptualize the projects?

DFG: My way of working is very simple. I take the cameras, put them in the car, park somewhere that catches my attention, either because of something I’ve seen or something I haven’t seen, and I walk. Along the way, many possible photos appear and I like to enjoy doing what I want at that moment. It is true that, when series come out naturally, such as "Endemic", when I see a palm tree in a way or a place that interests me, I stop and photograph it, without further ado. I also sometimes come back, depending on how interested I am in the light or not happy with the result. After all this, and over time, I am accumulating photographs and after so much walking and touring the territory, possible series are appearing. All this is also influenced by the music I listen to, the movies, what I read or a conversation with a friend.

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

Do you privilege any camera or process in particular?

For 2 years I have only been working with large format. It is clear that such a large negative gives you great technical performance, but over time I realized that it is not so much for this. I think these are cameras that give you a different approach to photography. Something that for me is important, to take my time and photograph calmly. Although over time I have had to take pictures quickly and I also like it hehe. I also feel that throughout the time I have been using this type of camera it has made me believe in my work, feel that in some way I am doing something important for myself.

Tell us about your approach to photography in general. How did it all start?

I started to be interested in photography around 2010, when I bought my first digital camera. I used it for a while, but back then I was more interested in music. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it wasn’t connected to photography. Years later, in 2015, a friend encouraged me to get into fashion photography. So I tried it, I bought the typical Zenit, I revealed the first roll in a store, I saw it and I was amazed that something could come out of a piece of plastic. From that moment, something changed in me, I began to feel very curious about the work of authors, I was taking more and more photos, until it has become something natural in my life. I have learned a large part of it on my own, although here in the Canary Islands there are some courses that are called professional training and there was one on photography and I did it to learn the more technical part of the study. And for me it meant something important, which is knowing what I don’t want to do. I admit that it was hard and somewhat conflicting for me, because I felt that the photographic thought that existed was purely commercial on the one hand, and on the more artistic side, it was very biased by very specific ideals. Apart from this, I have done loose workshops, with photographers who interest me. I think it’s important to share and test what can nourish you.

I am influenced by the work of many people, both in the world of photography, film, and literature. Within photography, I could name many, but I have a great weakness for Robert Adams and not only for his photography, but for his way of being and seeing the world. I feel very identified with him. And ironically, another great influence for me are Bukowski’s books, for me he has a very clear, fast and concise way of explaining, I think it’s something that can be interesting when taken to photography. Within the cinema, I could name a Wim Wenders, or David Lynch, who for me are two directors who take me to places totally different from what I could do within the world of photography, but who still influence me a lot.

© Daniel Fleitas García from the series "Endémico"

Any interesting books that you recommend and that recently inspired you and why?

DFG: Recently I read a book that helped me a of a Spanish author named Yasmina Reza and the book is called “Arte”. The book is a dialogue between three friends, where one of them buys a work of contemporary art for a lot of money and this generates a debate between them, where the one who buys the painting defends what he bought, another discusses it and does not sees sense and another stays in the middle. It is very interesting, not only because of the part of the painting, but because of how this leads to discussions of other topics, for example political or personal.

LINKS
Daniel Fleitas García (website)
Winner Urbanautica Institute Annual Awards 2021

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