From the US-Mexico border to protests in Poland: highlights of PhotoEspaña 2026
From the US-Mexico border to protests in Poland: highlights of PhotoEspaña 2026
From the US Mexico border to protests - Spain’s premier photography festival, PhotoEspaña, launched this month in Madrid, with plans to host nearly 100 exhibitions by September. These showcases will feature the work of over 300 visual artists, spanning the capital and other regions of the country. Organized under the theme of “reimagining,” the program blends established names in Spanish and international photography with emerging talent, offering a diverse exploration of identity, culture, and contemporary issues.
Reframing Borders: Alejandro Cartagena’s Divide
Alejandro Cartagena, a Mexican photographer, is presenting a retrospective at Fundación Mapfre that examines the cultural and physical divides created by the US-Mexico border. His three series—Invisible Line, Between Borders, and Los Americanos—challenge viewers to reconsider the boundaries that shape human experience. In one striking image from Los Americanos, the camera captures the tension between two worlds, highlighting how the wall becomes more than a structure; it is a symbol of separation that redefines what it means to belong.
“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. They are from the north, we are from the south and the cultures don’t mix. There’s this obsession with being separate, being two different cultures,” Cartagena explains.
The photographer’s work delves into the psychological and emotional toll of this division, suggesting that the wall is not just a barrier but a force that reshapes identity. In Between Borders, the contrast between natural landscapes and man-made structures underscores the artificiality of borders. His final series, Los Americanos, focuses on the shared humanity of those living on either side, questioning whether the wall can truly separate people or if it merely amplifies their connection.
Portraits of Resilience: Laia Abril’s Endometriosis Project
At the Museo del Romanticismo in Madrid, Laia Abril’s solo exhibition Strike confronts the physical and emotional struggles of endometriosis through life-sized portraits. The installation, which features six women and a trans man, captures their postures as they navigate pain and seek relief. Abril’s approach emphasizes the intimate scale of the human body, inviting viewers to engage with the raw vulnerability of her subjects.
“The idea was to visualise in real size,” Abril says. “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.”
Her photographs are framed from above, evoking the sensation of being untethered from one’s own form—a metaphor for the disconnection many endure during chronic pain. The triptych format further reinforces the physical and emotional strain of the condition, creating a narrative that moves between resilience and fragility. “It’s kind of a fight between our body helping us to be resilient and fighting the pain, but also our body needs to be disconnected because it’s carrying a lot of pain,” she reflects.
Documenting Dissent: Rafal Milach’s Polish Protests
Rafal Milach, a Polish visual artist, is presenting a bold exhibition at Circulo de Bellas Artes that challenges conventional perspectives on protest photography. His work, titled Strike Newspaper 9, focuses on the disruptive power of documentary practices that break from traditional modes of observation. Milach argues that the visual language of protest photography often feels repetitive, yet he uses this as a starting point to create something more dynamic.
“Protest photography is quite boring visually, it always looks the same,” Milach admits. “I wanted to make it accessible to new audiences by focusing on the symbols that drive collective action.”
The exhibition incorporates banners, murals, and free newspapers as tools for fostering solidarity and resistance. These elements are not just background; they are central to the narrative, illustrating how public spaces become arenas for cultural expression. Milach’s collaboration with the Archive of Public Protests and Jednostka Gallery underscores his commitment to documenting social movements in a way that resonates beyond the gallery walls.
Reimagining Perspectives: The Group Show’s Global Scope
PhotoEspaña’s group show, Reimagining, features 13 projects that explore the evolving relationship between photographers and their subjects. The exhibition, held at the Fernán Gómez centre, showcases varied approaches to storytelling, from abstract interpretations to deeply personal narratives. One standout piece is Txema Salvans’ The Wreckage of a Catastrophe, which reimagines the aftermath of societal collapse through fragmented visuals.
Salvans’ work, including the photograph Venus and Mercury, merges the natural and the artificial, blurring the lines between reality and symbolism. His images, often layered with ambiguity, invite viewers to question the meaning of form and content. The exhibition’s title, Reimagining, serves as a thread connecting these diverse contributions, each offering a fresh lens on the world.
Other participants in the group show include artists whose work interrogates the role of photography in shaping cultural memory. By reimagining traditional formats and themes, these creators challenge the notion that art must adhere to a single vision. Instead, they propose that photography is a living medium, capable of evolving alongside the societies it reflects.
A Convergence of Themes: From Walls to Wounds
Throughout PhotoEspaña 2026, the interplay between physical and metaphorical boundaries emerges as a recurring motif. Whether it’s the towering walls of the US-Mexico border, the intimate portraits of endometriosis, or the banners of Polish protests, each exhibition grapples with the idea of division and connection. This thematic unity suggests that the festival is not just a collection of works but a cohesive dialogue on how we define ourselves in relation to others.
Cartagena’s focus on separation and identity aligns with the broader concerns of the festival, highlighting how external forces can shape internal experiences. Similarly, Abril’s exploration of the human body as a site of struggle mirrors the tension between individual and collective narratives. Milach’s work, meanwhile, underscores the power of visual storytelling in mobilizing social change. Together, these projects form a mosaic that reflects the complexities of modern life, where borders, bodies, and beliefs are constantly redefined.
As the festival progresses, it promises to offer more than a display of art—it invites audiences to reimagine the world through new perspectives. The emphasis on diverse voices and unconventional approaches ensures that PhotoEspaña remains a platform for innovation, where the act of seeing becomes a transformative experience. Through these exhibitions, the festival not only celebrates the medium of photography but also reclaims its role in shaping our understanding of identity, resistance, and resilience.