terça-feira, 28 de abril de 2009

On photography - Red, Blue and Green carnation


Red carnation has been, for the last 35 years, a symbol in Portugal. It represents the revolution of 1974, on April the 25th. Why?
Well, some says that a soldier, seeing a flower seller, asked her for one to use on his gun barrel. Other tells us that a waitress of a first class restaurant went, as usual, to the market to buy flowers so that they could decorate their tables. When arriving to the restaurant, early in the morning, it was close due the revolution. And, since those carnations couldn’t be used next day, she began to give them to the soldiers.
One way or the other, red carnation became a symbol, all over the country. And, today, wearing a carnation on the lapel or exhibiting it firmly hold on a tight close fist on the April 25th means being celebrating the revolution, the end of the dictatorship, the returning of the freedom and democracy.

Last year our president went to the parliament to his tradition speech, about that day. And, for the first time for more than 3 decades, a president didn’t wear a carnation on that day. This year, he did it again.
It was and is polemic, his attitude. And I never heard a satisfactory explanation about it. But I guess he mean that the revolution is over, even dead, and, with it, all those dreams from the left-wing and about social and human equality . The right-wing turn is definitely and assured.
I must say that he, the actual president, has done a good work doing that turning. Now as president and when he was the prime minister.

This photograph was done to illustrate a text on how Portuguese people is left aside on the main decisions about their country and future, having the illusion of taking decisions on the elections. And that is just an illusion! Democracy in Portugal is an illusion, as well as freedom!
The reasons for this photograph weren’t casuals. Instead of an erected Red carnation, the real symbol of the revolution, I use this flabby one. The Bluish sky, symbol of infinity and future, is partially covered with clouds, announcing cold and rain. As for the Green of hope, well, is still in my heart and mind.
And, for sure, I still believe that the future is in our hands. But we have to build it ourselves, not leaving it in others hands and responsibility. Sometimes again our will!
But, maybe, we have to change our political and society organization.



Texto e imagem: by me

Sem comentários: