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Photography
Jun 21, 2026
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PhotoEspaña 2026: A Celebration of Photography from Border Walls to Personal Pain

AI Summary
PhotoEspaña 2026, Spain's leading photography festival, showcases the work of over 300 visual artists across the country. Highlights include exhibitions by Alejandro Cartagena, exploring the US-Mexico border, and Laia Abril, documenting the effects of endometriosis.

Unveiling PhotoEspaña 2026

PhotoEspaña, Spain's premier photography festival, has officially opened in Madrid and will feature nearly 100 exhibitions showcasing the work of over 300 visual artists by September. The festival's theme of 'reimagining' brings together major figures in Spanish and international photography, as well as emerging artists.

Exploring the US-Mexico Border

The festival includes an expansive overview of the career of Mexican photographer Alejandro Cartagena, featuring three series: 'Invisible Line', 'Between Borders', and 'Los Americanos'. These works focus on the effects and meaning of the US-Mexico border.

  • Alejandro Cartagena on the border wall: “It’s potent, it shows its power all the time. Wherever you look, there’s these jagged lines or these massive concrete walls that are cutting and showing that we are different.”

The Impact of Separation

Cartagena's work highlights the devastating effects of separation caused by the border. He notes: “One of the interesting or more poignant things of this experience was how the border, the wall, basically dissolves the idea of identity and personhood.”

Documenting Endometriosis

Another notable exhibition features Laia Abril's life-size portraits of individuals coping with endometriosis. Her subjects, six women and a trans man, were photographed in postures they adopt to manage their pain.

  • Laia Abril on her portraits: “The idea was to visualise in real size. Their bodies in moments of pain, but also they were showing us what are the different positions they take when they try to have relief from that pain.”

A Platform for Diverse Voices

PhotoEspaña 2026 provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, from the impact of border walls to personal struggles with health conditions. The festival will continue to showcase these exhibitions across Spain until September.