ELEFANTE BLANCO (White Elephant)

"ELEFANTE BLANCO (White Elephant)" - Urban and landscape intervention in Cabo de la Vela, Guajira-Colombia.

The urban and landscape intervention reflects about corruption in the North of Colombia. 20 years ago, unscrupulous politicians had to construct a road to communicate the Lower with the Northern Guajira. They never did it. Instead, 18 concrete structures constructed to hold the road and let the water pass where left behind abandoned in the middle of the desert. The search for the "white elephant", which at the beginning was a fable, then became a real issue that describes us as society: "white elephant" is an expression in Spanish to call buildings that were abandoned by the Government and are in disuse. The urban intervention consisted in covering these structures with a white tarpaulin to call the attention of locals and tourists about the problem. Also, to make a temporary dialogue with the environment, the animals and the people. Locals helped to cover and lit up the structure to be later photographed. The series is part of a bigger project called Zoología Real (Real Zoology), which describes social, cultural and political phenomenons where animals are named in phrases, proverbs and expressions.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - The blue sky is a metaphor for the lack of water (clouds) and drought in Guajira, Colombia.
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The blue sky is a metaphor for the lack of water (clouds) and drought in Guajira, Colombia.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Fidel Pushaina, who helped wrapping the concrete structure, points the area where the project was made.
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Fidel Pushaina, who helped wrapping the concrete structure, points the area where the project was made.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - A bush chases a girl in the dessert of High Guajira. The climate change chases humanity.
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A bush chases a girl in the dessert of High Guajira. The climate change chases humanity.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - A cloud as a nuclear fungus under explosion.
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A cloud as a nuclear fungus under explosion.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Wood pole as an abstraction of the nose of the elephant.
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Wood pole as an abstraction of the nose of the elephant.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Image from the ELEFANTE BLANCO (White Elephant) photography project
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Villagers have to travel to the border with Venezuela to get water for their community, plantations and animals, as Colombian government doesn't provide enough resources to fulfill their needs.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Goats are resistant animals for dry regions. Goats provide milk, meat and wool.
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Goats are resistant animals for dry regions. Goats provide milk, meat and wool.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Image from the ELEFANTE BLANCO (White Elephant) photography project
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18 concrete structures constructed to hold the road where left behind abandoned in the middle of the desert. Politicians use them to make campaign, animals and people for shade.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - The desert is relentless and dry.
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The desert is relentless and dry.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - The "White Elephant" resting at night.
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The "White Elephant" resting at night.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Bones of a goat's jaw lies on top of a fishing net.
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Bones of a goat's jaw lies on top of a fishing net.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - A motorcycle driven by a indigenous Wayuú, lit up the structure at night to create a particular atmosphere.
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A motorcycle driven by a indigenous Wayuú, lit up the structure at night to create a particular atmosphere.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - An elephant made by children using objects and bones.
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An elephant made by children using objects and bones.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - The "white elephant" stays pachydermal in the middle of the desert.
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The "white elephant" stays pachydermal in the middle of the desert.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - The "white elephant" sleeps at night...
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The "white elephant" sleeps at night...

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - At the end of the intervention, two villagers wrap themselves in the white tarpaulin.
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At the end of the intervention, two villagers wrap themselves in the white tarpaulin.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Both, the elephant skin and the concrete layer, see how the water evaporates because of the high temperatures.
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Both, the elephant skin and the concrete layer, see how the water evaporates because of the high temperatures.

© Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo - Concrete structure before being intervened with a white tarpaulin.
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Concrete structure before being intervened with a white tarpaulin.

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