Reina
Around the world, carnival represents a privileged moment of freedom from the limitations of everyday life. In his Reina series, Cyril Porchet delivers a singular vision of one of the highlights of carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands: the gala for the election of the Carnival Queen. On that evening, participants walk before the jury panel, carrying the weight of their sumptuous costumes on their shoulders. Away from the colorfulness usually associated with carnivals, the use of black and white photography seems to blend the candidate into her gigantic costume. Exhibited on the facade of Vevey’s former prison, a monumental 140-m2 image presented a Carnival Queen in her extravagant outfit, in stark contrast with the building’s original function.
