06 – Juan Brenner

Guatemala (1977)

Marvelous Phenomena

The Guatemalan photographer focused on his origins to look back on a major event which took place in 1534. After lengthy research, he retraced the exact path the legendary Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado took with an army of thousands of Guatemalan soldiers on an expedition in Ecuador. Trapped in the heart of the Andes, the expedition turned into a nightmare. Juan Brenner explored the places these men passed through almost 500 years ago, with a particular interest in the progeny they left behind. He reveals the impact of this forced relocation of Guatemalan citizens to Ecuador and describes its legacy in today’s world.

The installation Marvelous Phenomena by Juan Brenner is presented at the Musée Jenisch, alongside other projects awarded by the Grand Prix Images Vevey 2021/2022.