Tones and harmonies of music in Chile
By Alfonso Yunge
Camera: Nikon D850
Optics: Nikon 50mm f1.8
Flashes: Elinchrom
This work was born as a visual and emotional tribute to an essential part of our identity: Chilean popular music. It is also an intimate act, a way of looking back at those years when sound was my day to day; and the stage, my everyday landscape. Through 34 portraits, I seek to value not only the recognized musicians, but also the less visible faces that have been a fundamental part of the artistic development of the country from the 80s onwards.
During the eighties and nineties – a time of great musical effervescence – I worked as an assistant and sound engineer. I experienced up close the take-off of many bands and soloists who, with effort and passion, managed to establish a new musical circuit, diverse, creative and deeply connected to the social and cultural changes of the country. I witnessed, behind the scenes, the pulse of a generation that found in music not only a means of expression, but a vehicle of resistance, memory and community.
Today, with this exhibition, I return to those years from another angle: that of the photographer who seeks to capture the essence of that experience. Each image is an attempt to translate the intensity of those moments into light and shadow. It’s not just about portraits; It is a visual narrative where the gestures, looks and hands of the musicians tell stories that do not always fit in words. There is melancholy, strength, tenderness, tiredness, pride. There is life.
The exhibition, presented at the Bicentennial Gallery of the Estación Mapocho Cultural Center (Santiago) between November 2024 and January 2025, and currently on display at the Espacio Zinc in Laguna de Zapallar, stands out for its interactive nature. Each photograph includes a QR code that directs the viewer to a website with information about the musician portrayed, their songs and social networks, allowing a deeper connection with the artists and their work.
This work is still in process to reach a greater number of musicians portrayed and their legacy.
About the author:
Photographer, born in 1967 in Santiago de Chile. After studying Civil Engineering and Design, he decided to leave both careers to work as a sound technician in the Chilean musical environment for more than 20 years.
In parallel and to date, he carries out various self-taught studies in photography, photo processing software and other artistic subjects.
Since 2023, he has been a founding partner of Galería Foto y Barrio, a space dedicated to linking photography lovers through exhibitions, talks, workshops and more.
Her work is a vibrant and captivating expression that is characterized by the deep exploration of diverse themes and the meticulous attention to detail of each photograph. The search for symmetry and balance is a distinctive feature of his work. Each image is a carefully designed composition where visual harmony plays an essential role.
Links:
