Sombreros

Ramón Eguiguren

09/09/14. (Sala 311)

After a long trajectory as a photographer and director of photography, I have compiled a collection of photos to display in this exhibition. All are related to each other with a central theme, but with the freedom you have when they are taken for yourself, without the ties the advertising world entails and for which my work is intended for.

I think at the moment there is too much inertia in tackling things related to creativity. Everything should be part of almost a “unique” way of expressing something. Moreover, new technologies play a part that completely disguises the lack of content making it easy to get attractive results thanks to a few tricks. I’m far from being against this. I myself have even digitalized my eyebrows and with applications like PHOTOSHOP I would never go back to the alchemy of developing in dark places with “ambient” light.

You can take pictures with whatever you have on hand … with powerful cameras, small, compact cameras, cell phones, etc. And even with a shoe box with a hole in it. I have opted for normal means, according to my needs at the time. I have focused on creating images with a common theme: A catalog of hats made with just one hat.

I found it exciting having to struggle with an item that I never wanted to change. The characters that are wearing the hats change and the situations in which they are in do as well. I must admit that at times, this has been a big constraint, but it has also been self-controlling and it has made me look under every stone to find ideas and stories to tell.

I hope it’s an achievement and thanks for contemplating it.
Ramón Eguiguren

Biography
In 1969, while he studied electronic engineering in San Sebastian, he wins a scholarship to study photography in Florence for five months.

This prompts him to take the career path in the field of fashion photography and he starts his career together with his brother (LOS EGUIGUREN) in Barcelona in 1970 until this day.

They quickly become known in this field and are also highly valued by lovers of artistic photography in galleries within the sector and by specialized publications like NUEVA LENTE; EVERFOTO; and others, among their clients are designers and manufacturers of the time; FERRER Y SENTIS pioneers in opening international markets, LOIS International, MONTESINOS, PEPE MATEU, etc, and the few existing fashion magazines.

By 1974 they move onto publicity photography working in campaigns for ORO, MAJÓRICA, PUIG, LOEWE, PATERNINA, etc and are awarded prizes that companies like Kodak, LOEWE, fashion magazines and photography media in general promoted.

Naturally, they go onto exploring the world of publicity spots and work with important agencies such as MMLB, BASSAT, TIEMPO, RCP, etc. and photography is gradually relegated to second position but never abandoned.

Towards the year 2000, Ramón Eguiguren resumes his career in solo and picks up on photography again always combining it with his work as photographic director in publicity spots.

Photo: Rafel Vargas.