What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
Through this process, I learned that not everything needs to be photographed, even the things I once believed should be. I think it is important to know how to distinguish between what is being lived and what is being recorded, and to feel confident that beyond the image there is also an enduring memory that will ultimately become the true symbol of the photograph.

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
Nostalgia has always been a tool I use in my artistic discourse, helping me shape my narrative into something more poetic. I consider myself a very sensitive person, and I know that this sensitivity is also a virtue and a source of strength.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Once, I had a conversation about birthdays as a ritual. During that same conversation, I spoke about a dream I had that revolved around my birthday. The visual setting felt deeply symbolic to me. My family was waiting for me in the middle of the living room, with a cake placed on the central table. Everything was dark, no lights were turned on, and the only illumination came from the candle on the cake. There was a lot of noise outside, as if a party were taking place, and they were also waiting for my arrival there.

On a personal level, I felt there was an intriguing and mysterious duality between these scenarios. That is why I decided to speak more about this special date, as it also marks an important part of my identity and my origin.

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
The hardest thing has been allowing myself to be as honest as possible in my work. Letting all the rawness I carry inside exist, and releasing the masks we sometimes wear without even realizing it.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
To be honest, I have not yet found my favorite restaurant, but if I had to name one I truly enjoy, it would be Casa de los Azulejos, in Mexico City. The space offered me a wonderful experience. It was also the first time I traveled to the city on my own, and it became a deeply meaningful moment. I would highly recommend trying their burritos; it was an explosion of flavors.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
I think I’d call it Specters of a memory. The story would be closely related to the film Frances Ha, focusing on the life of a young woman who wants to move forward and redefine her path, from moving into a new home and meeting new friends to finding the courage to follow her passions and dreams in different ways.

The soundtrack would most likely be created by the band Zoé or by Mazzy Star.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
I strongly recommend the work of Eloïse Labarbe-Lafon, who focuses on the image as object, working with black-and-white film and using oil paint to color her photographs. What fascinates me most about her work is how she uses color as an emotional tool in each image, redirecting her narrative and moving beyond conventional techniques.

Alejandra Sobrevilla

Photographer and visual artist. Her work focuses on memory, identity, and nostalgia.

www.instagram.com/alesobrevilla/

La entrada Espectros de una memoria se publicó primero en ERRR MAGAZINE.