40 Cloudy Years: The Genesis Collection
✨ Some collections are born from meticulous planning, others from chance. But my most cherished photography collection was born from a moment of clarity, a return to the essence of my passion, and a journey that shaped my career as an artist. The ongoing series “Atmósferas” holds two collections so far, the mobile photos and the large-scale photos, each acting as a “season” of the story.
Here’s how it all started, seen now through a 10-year perspective: “40 Cloudy Years”.
Rediscovering Photography
For years, photography was my profession, focused on fashion editorials and campaigns (and at the same time working as a part-time marketer to make a living). While I once loved it, the industry’s pretentious standards, hyper-demanding clients, and the constant juggling of human resources left me drained. Photography became a weight tied to my livelihood, and I eventually stepped away, dedicating myself fully to marketing. In the process, I lost connection with the core of my passion.
Then, in 2014, a conversation with my brother changed everything. He asked me something so simple, yet so profound: “If you like to make photos, go out there and make photos.” Those words stripped away all the noise and expectations surrounding photography. Suddenly, I wasn’t a professional with deadlines or a marketer trying to stay afloat. I was simply someone who loved to create.
A Phone, a Window, and a Neighborhood
At the time, I lived in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo’s most culturally rich neighborhood, with a large window overlooking the Rio de la Plata and the ever-changing sky toward the Atlantic ocean. Though I was working full-time as a freelance marketer, I began capturing moments with my phone. The rhythm was spontaneous, sensing the image outside the window in the corner of my eye and pausing while working from home to capture a breathtaking view, taking different routes to the office to discover fresh perspectives, or stopping mid-run along the Rambla for a striking shot.
Soon, my camera roll was overflowing. I began building stories with these photos, organizing them by color, weather conditions, or even by mood. What started as a playful exercise turned into something serious. These images became the foundation of my creative rebirth, and they resonated far beyond my expectations.
From Bricks to Buildings: First Exhibitions
The first breakthrough came when Montevideo’s Hyatt Hotel invited me to exhibit these photos in their lobby. Titled Cielos Temperamentales de Montevideo (Temperamental Skies of Montevideo), the series celebrated the dramatic skies that had inspired me. Seeing my work displayed publicly was overwhelming but thrilling, igniting a spark that kept me moving forward.
Reaching out to Samsung, inspired by the resonance of my mobile photos, I proposed an exhibition. They doubled the offer by featuring my work as a solo exhibition for the launch of their QLED TVs. There was only one problem: my original images were low-resolution mobile shots. At that time, I had been experimenting with a new technique that combined photography and watercolor. Seizing the moment, I adapted the project, taking a six-hour road trip along my favorite triangular route in Uruguay to create new large-scale pieces. This dynamic evolution marked the second “season” of the series. But that’s a story for another day.
A Heartfelt Farewell to Uruguay
Unbeknownst to me, those original skies were also a farewell to Uruguay. In 2020, I moved to Barcelona, leaving behind the country that had shaped so much of my identity. Ciudad Vieja, where most of the photos were taken, was also where I grew up. By 2022, I curated this special collection titled 40 Cloudy Years, a tribute to the rich life I’d lived in Uruguay. The skies of Montevideo had been my muse and also a reminder of where, how and why I began this journey.
… the skies of Montevideo anchor me to what’s essential, to find true beauty in what’s within arm’s reach, and to trust my instincts.
The Flow of Seasons
Today, Atmósferas series continues to grow at its own pace. Each season is a reflection of places where I’ve grown. At the core, the skies of Montevideo anchor me to what’s essential, to find true beauty in what’s within arm’s reach, and to trust my instincts. They will always remind me that passion is not a burden but a gift.
As I look forward, I’m excited to see how this collection matures. Perhaps its pieces will find a new alignments over time… For now, they are milestones—each one a testament to the power of returning to the simplest and most minimal form of your love.
 | 1. Hotel 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 38/40 Order a copy |
 | 2. La Milagrosa 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 3. BHU 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 4. Cigars 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 5. Arrows 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 6. Curtain 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 7. Santa Rosa 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 8. Storm 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 9. Palms 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 10. Wave Curl 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 11. Full Moon 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 12. Lightning 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 13. Palermo 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 14. Tero 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 15. River Waves 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 16. Dune 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 17. Ship 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 38/40 Order a copy |
 | 18. Zabala 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 38/40 Order a copy |
 | 19. Salvo 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 20. Port 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 21. Candescent 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 22. Cooking 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 23. Sun 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 24. Two Palms 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 25. Antisunset 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 26. Aduana 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 27. Container Ship 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 28. Glow 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 29. Four Palms 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 30. Black Cloud 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 31. Rooftop 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 32. Polonio 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 33. Rush 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 34. Cake 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 35. Sur 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 36. Bags 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 37. Back 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 38. Comb 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 39. Alpenglow 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 39/40 Order a copy |
 | 40. Rainbows 20 x 20 cm Mobile photography over matte photographic paper Editions available: 37/40 Order a copy |
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