All images courtesy of the artist.
a visual exploration of the objects, mundane to sentimental, that sustain relationships with one's homeland
photography & words Isabella Tjalve
creative direction Shaelyn Stout
London’s Latin American community is as active as it is underrepresented. Perceptions of Latin American diasporas are predominantly exported to other countries by the United States’ media, and in turn reflect only a fraction of the entire Latin American community. Being Latin American in the US offers an exceedingly different experience than that of being Latin American in the UK.
While there is a set of deeply ingrained prejudices towards our communities in the US, with that comes the sense of familiarity with us, whether well-informed or not. It is jarring to come to the UK and realise the extent of the absence of knowledge regarding Latin America beyond the Chipotle on Charing Cross Road.
Our community is rapidly growing in the UK. Despite this, there is still very little representation and knowledge of our cultures and traditions. We are excited to share our foods, languages and cultures, but unfortunately there does not appear to be much space to do that. London’s major Latin American community hubs like Elephant and Castle—which has already lost its iconic shopping center, a communal hotspot that housed many Latin American vendors—are consistently at risk of gentrification, taking with them opportunities to get a small taste of home.
It can be isolating to not be able to speak our languages or eat certain foods, which is why many find a sense of comfort with each other that goes beyond national barriers.
Leaving or living outside of our homelands shapes and challenges our understandings of home. It redefines relationships with our countries and the everyday items that we once overlooked or had taken for granted. Foods, colours, languages. These can act as placeholders for the people and places we’ve left behind. From something seemingly mundane, like seasoning you’ve just realized can’t be found anywhere else, to more sentimental items such as family heirlooms, these objects all mean a little bit extra. They quickly become extensions of the place you’ve left.
Ali, Briana and I have all recently moved to the UK after having lived in the States. We have all experienced the stark contrast of living as Latin Americans in both countries, and how this affects the degree to which we cherish small tokens of our homelands.
A necklace that consists of three charms—the crest of Cuba, la Vírgen de la Caridad (the patron saint of Cuba) and a delicate heart. Ali and her sister received identical necklaces as a gift from their mother, who also wears one.
Brianna keeps Polaroids of her family tucked into notebooks and next to journal entries. Images of her with her sisters, her with her parents. The photos radiate a warmth and closeness between them.
Orchids in Ali’s room, an ode to the many variants found in Cuba.
The classic Cien Años de Soledad by Márquez that Isabella has been meaning to read for years but can’t quite commit to.
Isabella Tjalve is a London-based, Danish-Mexican photographer with interests in themes of migration, human rights and cultural identity. She is currently completing a Master’s in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at UAL’s London College of Communication. View more of Isabella’s work here.