Among the various things that I love about Spain, one is the coexistence of the new and the old. En the series of images that follow, I've attempted to capture that Diachronic Juxtaposition. At first, such moments seemed ugly to me. The electric lights in a church from the 13th century were like necessary stains on a work of art; on history. However, it has occurred to me that this coexistence can be something more than a stain: something beautiful in itself. Some weeks ago, I passed by the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca, where a Zumba class was occurring on a stage. The simultaneous observation of a modern art like Zumba, facing medallions that depict classic writers such as Miguel de Cervantes and Miguel de Unamuno, impressed me greatly. In the U.S., we tend to think that we have to choose between tradition and progress. Or at least it appears that way if we've not paid attention. The old structures are either replaced or isolated. Here, there are modern cars driven in the same cobblestone streets in which were horses centuries ago. Houses in Alberca with the same age as our country still exist and are homes for modern families. In those centuries the ground floors were used for animals; now the same walls form a garage and the house has Wi Fi.
Now I have much respect for the duality that exists here. I think that the Romans that constructed the Acueduct of Segovia would be proud of that their creation remains, and that they would also like to try a hamburger from the Burger King below the stone arches of the first century. This type of progress allow a ham store in Salamanca to continue curing its wares with traditional methods, while being protected by a modern security system. This coexistence is a normal part of modern life here in Spain: we use a modern washing machine to wash our clothes, but we dry them as the generation of our grandparents did.
I do not propose this juxtaposition as something exclusive to Spain. I'm sure that it also exists in my mother country but has escaped my observation. I'm also sure that it exists in cities and countries that I've not visited, and in forms that I've not considered. What examples of similar situations do you have? Where can history and modernity be seen at the same time? What is your opinion about such coexistence?
Now I have much respect for the duality that exists here. I think that the Romans that constructed the Acueduct of Segovia would be proud of that their creation remains, and that they would also like to try a hamburger from the Burger King below the stone arches of the first century. This type of progress allow a ham store in Salamanca to continue curing its wares with traditional methods, while being protected by a modern security system. This coexistence is a normal part of modern life here in Spain: we use a modern washing machine to wash our clothes, but we dry them as the generation of our grandparents did.
I do not propose this juxtaposition as something exclusive to Spain. I'm sure that it also exists in my mother country but has escaped my observation. I'm also sure that it exists in cities and countries that I've not visited, and in forms that I've not considered. What examples of similar situations do you have? Where can history and modernity be seen at the same time? What is your opinion about such coexistence?