Canillo's Streets Host Giant Portraits of Parish Elders in Gemma Pla's Exhibition

Canillo's historic centre has become an open-air space of remembrance with the exhibition LA BvELLESA del Pirineu, featuring large-format portraits by photographer Gemma Pla of 20 parish godfathers and godmothers.

The display, part of the Canillo Escènic Arts programme, showcases the subjects' memories, traditions, and experiences that trace the parish's evolution. Each two-metre canvas pairs a close-up portrait with a personal narrative, capturing lost customs, past daily life, and what they miss most about their home.

The project originated in 2023 when Pla began photographing elders in her village of Estamariu. Extended conversations revealed stories worth preserving, leading to her signature style of blending image and text. "They shared traditions that have faded, how life used to be, or what they long for from the village," she said.

After exhibiting across Catalan Pyrenees villages, bringing the work to Andorra marked a milestone. "Andorra, though a separate country from Catalonia, is the land of the Pyrenees, and I was excited to bring this project here," Pla noted. Canillo Escènic Arts director Toni Colom praised its fit: the large-scale pieces tell "a very human story of the parish" in a fresh way.

Organisers selected participants voluntarily, with some photographed at home and others at the Centre Com a Casa. A recurring theme was nostalgia for a smaller Canillo, where neighbours knew each other, greetings were constant, life moved slower, field work dominated, and ties to nature—in places like Incles valley—felt closer. "Everyone conveyed longing for that past calm and neighbourliness," Pla summarised.

The exhibition runs until 8 August in the old town's streets, free and open to all, inviting exploration of local heritage through these living testimonies.