Vanishing Amazon, 1990

The collection takes a look at the Indigenous communities of the Amazon, showing their intimate relationship, their deep connection with the land, rivers, and creatures that form the intricate web of life in the forest.

The photographs of the Ashaninka, Marubo, and Yanomami that Mirella Ricciardi produced in 1990 explore one of the world’s most diverse and enigmatic regions, often referred to as the “lungs of the planet,” which has long captured the imagination of artists, adventurers, and scientists. There is something deeply feminine about Mirella Ricciardi’s images, as photographer Sebastião Salgado points out when commenting on the unique quality of the images of the people he has visited on other occasions.

Over the course of about three months, Ricciardi visited the three communities, carrying only two 35 mm cameras, one for each type of film, and a zoom lens on each, to reduce weight and increase mobility. She carried around 150 rolls of Kodak film and her ability to communicate “through gestures and smiles” that brought her closer to her subjects.

She aimed to bear witness to the challenges experienced at that time by the three communities she photographed, which were fighting against invasions and for the recognition of their Indigenous lands.

These photographs recently formed part of an exhibition, ‘Mirella Ricciardi: Homage to the Peoples of the Amazon’ at the Museu da Imagem e do Som (MIS), São Paulo, Brazil. It was a collaborative effort, made possible through partnerships between the Indigenous communities, the photographer, Vanishing Africa Ltd archivists, the curators, and the museum. We aim to promote intercultural values and inspire a sense of responsibility towards the preservation of this vital and irreplaceable ecosystem.

Moving forward, the objective is to work with a trustworthy NGO. By focusing on a very precise collection that celebrates each of the community’s ability to maintain self-reliance, their cultural traditions and customs.

Mirella Ricciardi’s wish is to donate a percentage of the proceeds at the point of sale of a picture. The collection will draw from the photographs taken of the Ashaninka, the Marubo or the Yanomami in 1990.

In the words of Mirella Ricciardi, “With this collection I hope to ignite a spark of curiosity, empathy, and reverence for the intricate weaving of life that thrives in the heart of the Amazon.”