When University of the Ozarks junior Solange V. Avalo M. was thinking about a way to honor her beloved hometown of Masaya, Nicaragua, she turned to her passion for documentary photography, ethnographic studies, and research.
The result was “Yo Plural: Laberintos Múltiples de Nuestros Pasos” (I Plural: Multiple Labyrinths of our Footsteps), a black and white photography book that Avalo self-published. The book is a sentimental tribute to historic Monimbó, an indigenous community within Masaya.
“It was very important to highlight Monimbó, the community that inspires me every single day, which is also the very community that served as the foundation for the creation of this book,” Avalo said. “Monimbó, nestled in my beloved hometown Masaya, holds a special place in my heart. It enchants me with its mystique, evoking fictional towns such as Rulfo’s Comala, García Márquez’s Macondo, or Garro’s Ixtepec. Monimbó, like these towns, possesses a timeless allure, and brims with culture, perseverance, humility, and mysticism. It stands as a glowing testament to the unique idiosyncrasies that are woven throughout Nicaragua and embodies the distinctive qualities of Latin American heritage.”
From mid-May to late August of 2022, Avalo captured more than 5,000 photographs and nearly 200 video interviews, with a primary focus on Monimbó.
“This book is a labor of love that is born from an immersive ethnographic study of the community of Monimbó,” she said. “Its pages are filled with black and antique white documentary photography that illuminates the rich and diverse lives of the community members. From their cherished traditions, history, and unique relationship with death to their architecture, handicrafts, music, art, religion, sustainable work, interdependence, and more; every aspect of their daily lives is explored with care and respect. By listening closely to the community members themselves, this book serves as a powerful mosaic that reveals the complexities and wonders of life in Monimbó.”
Avalo said that she hopes readers “will not only gain a deeper appreciation of this extraordinary place, but also come to understand the social dynamics that are at play throughout Nicaragua, and by extension, through Latin America as well. Ultimately, this book is a tribute to the resilience, beauty, and cultural heritage of the Monimbó community members, and a celebration of their enduring spirit and efforts to uphold our idiosyncrasy, our social identity. “
Avalo, who is majoring in psychology, sociology, and philosophy, said the inspiration for the book title came from Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges’ works “Labyrinths” and “The Other.”
“Just as one might navigate through a labyrinth to find its center, I view my life as a labyrinth with Monimbó at its heart; a place that inspires me and calls me back to my origins,” Avalo said. “No matter how many paths I may take, I am drawn to the community members of Monimbó, who have served as my role models and whom I deeply love and respect. Now, even when I trace my footsteps through Monimbó, the main function of the book is to highlight the historical and current paths taken by these community members, whose unique idiosyncrasies represent Nicaragua and extend to other Latin American countries. In exploring their stories, I hope to uncover the threads that connect us all, transcending our differences and fostering a sense of shared humanity. ‘The Other’ reflects the constant encounter with oneself. In embarking on this project, I approached it with a mindset of humility, seeking to learn more about myself through the stories of others. Through this book, I hope to share this same dynamic with readers, inviting them to see themselves in the lives of others and encouraging them to embark on their own journey of self-discovery. It is my hope that in acknowledging the contributions of communities like Monimbó, we can come to a greater understanding of our social identity and the role we each play in shaping it.
Avalo said that as long as she can remember she has been captivated “by the magic of books.”
“It has always been my dream to pen one myself,” she said. “My first foray into the craft was at the age of 13. Influenced by the works of Orwell and Kafka, I penned a slightly offbeat novella.”
Avalo said that the idea for the book came in the spring of 2022.
“That’s when my social consciousness underwent a profound transformation,” she said. “It dawned on me the crucial significance of cultural and social identity, and how the communities that uphold this identity are often overlooked and undervalued. The consequence of such marginalization can be disastrous, leading to the gradual erosion and eventual loss of our collective identity. As a result of this ‘awakening’ of social consciousness, I realized that having innate empathy is not enough, it’s also necessary to have resources such as education to know how to channel it. Due to this, I came to understand that having the opportunity to acquire academic knowledge and having the unconditional guidance of my professors and the support of the University put me in a very privileged position. Because of this, I considered that using these resources correctly was an obligation to honor a community that I love so much, by attempting to narrate their story in their own voices, while also honoring my younger self and the human being I am now. For this reason, I decided to start this project of ethnographic research and community development once I returned to my home country that summer.”
Avalo said the photography aspect of the project involved her confronting issues such as ethics, collaboration and privacy.
“For some years now, I have dedicated myself to documenting what is not usually seen, so with my camera I felt like I was doing something as natural as breathing,” she said. “However, when working with human beings, this time I had to pay much more attention to my ethics, the comfort of the participants, and the respect for their limits, which is simple to do, but due to the nature of the project, the more faithful clarity there is in visually reporting, the better. For this reason, I also used author photography as a visual and stylistic resource that allowed me to play with the angles, inspired mainly by Rulfo, Facio, and Modotti. But above all, the participants and I joined forces to develop representative frameworks that would illuminate reality but respect their privacy. It was a team effort. Similarly with the interviews, first, I had to develop rapport and come up with questions that would be useful for the book’s function, but above all, they would provide a space for them to be heard with care and respect.”
She quickly discovered that she enjoyed the interviews as much as she enjoyed the photography. The interviews served as critical testimonies for the book, while also helping to inform her content analysis, and provide a foundation for future comparative analysis.
“With these interviews as a basis, I am able to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, unlocking insights that are invaluable to the work as a whole,” Avalo said. “One of my favorite things to do is to have deep conversations, so I found in the interviews an opportunity to delve into some of the most profound conversations I could ever hope to have. As such, I approached each question with great care, intending for them to hold significance not just for me and the book’s purpose, but above all, for the community members. So, after carefully preparing the questions, I committed myself to develop a close relationship with the participants, creating a space of ease and comfort for our conversations to flourish. Now, while doing the interviews, seeing their musings take shape, waiting patiently as they paused to reflect, and witnessing their faces light up with joy at the end of our discussions was nothing short of magical. To see them revel in this time set aside exclusively for them, to put my world on pause and navigate theirs, was a profound honor, a privilege for which I am filled with unyielding gratitude.”
Avalo’s book contains 185 “carefully selected photographs, each one impregnated with deep significance.”
“While the written portions aim to provide an analytical and accurate socio-cultural, historical, and ethnographic analysis of the community, I humbly believe that the photographs offer a transcendent dimension that I cannot communicate through words. As the narrator, these images serve as a fundamental resource, allowing me to convey the essence of my experience in a profound and meaningful way. In selecting the photographs included, I sought to share those that resonated most deeply with me and capture the essence of the community. While it was a challenge to choose from among so many meaningful photographs, I treasure all of them with the same love and respect, even those that did not make it to the final cut. Ultimately, my hope is that these images will speak to readers on a similar level, allowing them to experience the richness and beauty of this extraordinary place through a lens of empathy and understanding.”
The project was funded in part by the University’s student enrichment funds, in which Avalo applied for.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support of the student enrichment fund, which has been instrumental in making this project a reality,” she said. “Not only has it provided funding for the book printing, but more importantly, the committee behind it has shown faith in my ideas and dreams. I am truly humbled by the opportunity to bring this project to life and am grateful to everyone who has helped to make it possible. It is heartening to see our values as an Ozarks family — of service and justice — put into practice in such a meaningful way, helping to amplify the voices of those who might otherwise go unheard.”
Avalo plans to share copies of her book with members of the Monimbó community and, eventually, throughout Nicaragua.
“What I treasure the most from completing this book is the chance to have worked closely with the community members,” she said. “Even though I already held a profound love and respect for them, collaborating with them on this project made me admire and love them even more. This experience also reaffirmed my passion for social work, ethnography, and art, while reinforcing my passion for working with fellow human beings who may face unique challenges. It also showed me that with a combination of hard work and some good luck, it is possible to make your dreams a reality; and when those dreams involve honoring, celebrating, and dignifying the lives of others, especially those in vulnerable positions, the extra effort is all the more important. Overall, I am incredibly grateful for this enriching and rewarding experience.”
Topics: About, Academics, Psychology, Sociology