In a remote part of Bolivia, the indigenous Aymara people live according to traditions that have flourished for centuries.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
In a remote part of Bolivia, the indigenous Aymara people live according to traditions that have flourished for centuries.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2011
Magic and sorcery form a big part of everyday life. And for every aspect of existence there is a spirit, a ritual and a costume.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Magic and sorcery form a big part of everyday life. And for every aspect of existence there is a spirit, a ritual and a costume.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Costumes are used throughout the year for different types of rituals, whether at harvest time or for births and deaths.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Costumes are used throughout the year for different types of rituals, whether at harvest time or for births and deaths.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
The Spanish colonial influence has caused Catholic deities to be worshiped alongside traditional spirits, but the similarities are fleeting. From an Aymara point of view, ugly and off-putting deities can be benevolent.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
The Spanish colonial influence has caused Catholic deities to be worshiped alongside traditional spirits, but the similarities are fleeting. From an Aymara point of view, ugly and off-putting deities can be benevolent.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Two Swiss photographers, Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, spent several months documenting the extraordinary rituals of the Aymara.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Two Swiss photographers, Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, spent several months documenting the extraordinary rituals of the Aymara.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Their work has just been published in a new book called <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2FWaska-Tatay-Thierry-H%25C3%25A4usermann%2Fdp%2F2970070294%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1410787309%26sr%3D8-1%26keywords%3Dwaska%2Btatay" target="_blank" target="_blank">Waska Tatay</a>, which includes colorful, double-page spreads that bring the Aymara to life.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Their work has just been published in a new book called Waska Tatay, which includes colorful, double-page spreads that bring the Aymara to life.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Some of the portraits are intimate, snapshot-style pictures of people wearing costumes in the context of quotidian ritual.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Some of the portraits are intimate, snapshot-style pictures of people wearing costumes in the context of quotidian ritual.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
The subjects are pictured mainly in their own homes, surrounded by their belongings.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
The subjects are pictured mainly in their own homes, surrounded by their belongings.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Other pictures, however, are far more theatrical and posed, and owe much to the surrealist movement.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Other pictures, however, are far more theatrical and posed, and owe much to the surrealist movement.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
The subjects are never taken out of their home environments, but the objects in the frame are arranged to form a sort of still life.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
The subjects are never taken out of their home environments, but the objects in the frame are arranged to form a sort of still life.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
Theatricality is a huge element of life for the Aymara. Gods such as Supay, the Lord of the Underworld, are capricious but can be powerful allies.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
Theatricality is a huge element of life for the Aymara. Gods such as Supay, the Lord of the Underworld, are capricious but can be powerful allies.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
But many of the portraits illustrate how deeply the spiritual traditions of the Aymara penetrate the lives of individuals.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
But many of the portraits illustrate how deeply the spiritual traditions of the Aymara penetrate the lives of individuals.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010
One thing is certain: Their traditions are an inherent part of life in some parts of Bolivia, where modernity takes a back seat and shamanism flourishes.
The beautifully ornate Aymara people —
One thing is certain: Their traditions are an inherent part of life in some parts of Bolivia, where modernity takes a back seat and shamanism flourishes.
© Raphaël Verona and Thomas Rousset, 2010