tchau, India

How did the idea for this project come about?
I didn't plan the recording of this little video, nor did I know that that afternoon would be the last time I would see my friend India before I traveled back to Ireland. I met India at a music festival in Portugal, where I've recently moved. We connected immediately, and after that, we only saw each other twice more, including that afternoon in the park. Our friendship was brief and spontaneous, but we shared some lovely moments on those few occasions.

I always carry my camera with me, and the picnic was no exception. We did a lot more than just talk at that get-together: we drew, drank wine, listened to music, made collages, and then went to a bar. However, the only scenes I recorded are those that appear in the short film.

I decided to create this video because that very night India told us she was leaving. I already knew it, but I hadn't realized the moment had arrived; time had passed so quickly. This piece is a tribute to our brief encounter.

What did you discover (or unlearn) while doing it?
I discovered how much I enjoy spontaneity when filming. Before, when I went out with my camera for personal projects, I used to push myself too hard: I'd strive for lofty goals or achieve shots I rarely ended up getting, and that pressure led me to stop filming and not edit what I'd started.

With this short, it was different: everything felt authentic and fluid. The closeness and personal nature of the subject matter made both the recording and editing a light and honest process. Thanks to this experience, I was inspired again, began to trust in the simplicity of letting go, and remembered that video is a bridge to connect with what truly resonates with me.

What images, sounds or emotions guided the construction of the piece?
I knew I wanted to convey a feeling of nostalgia and melancholy, which is why I chose classical music with the piano as the protagonist. That sound, when played slowly, always makes me nostalgic.

I was also influenced by the knowledge that it would likely be the last time I would see my friend. That knowledge motivated me to do it and shape it as a small farewell gift.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Yes. I just saw the movie Perfect Days by Wim Wenders and I felt very drawn to the main character. I especially liked how he always carries his camera with him to capture moments he considers important or genuine.

That idea inspired me a lot, because for me, recording and then editing is a way of collecting moments, but also of giving them another dimension, of making them transcend.

What was the biggest challenge during creation (filming, editing, production, or idea)?
In this short, everything happened very spontaneously, so I enjoyed every part of the process and no stage felt difficult. What did take longer was the editing, especially because at the beginning of the piece I wanted to experiment with sound design and it took me a while to find the perfect sounds I imagined for this piece.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
I'm going to recommend one of my favorite places, it's a place based on the smoke kitchens of Oaxaca, it's called Cencalli. There are dishes prepared with endemic corn, grasshoppers, quelites, moles, tamales and more stews that vary each week. They are only open on Saturdays and Sundays, they are within the Centro Cultural Los Pinos, I always go to this restaurant after skating at the Constituyentes skate park. I highly recommend trying the atoles and chile rellenos.

Recommend us an artist you follow who inspires you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I follow several artists from different disciplines that inspire me a lot, but speaking specifically about photography, I recently discovered in a magazine the work of street photographer Joel Meyerowitz. I love the way he uses color in his compositions: it's very expressive.

I'm trying to emulate that color management in my own work. I haven't achieved it yet, but it's a goal of mine to be able to use color with the same sensitivity and mastery as he does.