"Gauchos" (Gaúchos)
by Daniéle Da Meda - Photography

Until mid 19th century the word Gaucho was used to refer to a group of people seen as advenventurers, robbers of cattle and outlaw, people with "no law and no king" (sem lei nem rei) that lived freely in the pampas of the southernimost part of Brazil, the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Nowadays the word Gaucho is used to refer to all people that are born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Gauchos are a mixture of indigenous people, Africans, Portuguese, Spanish, Germans and Italians.

The Gaucho's life style as people who lived freely in the pampas is still kept nowadays by many who gather together to celebrate it. This tradition is kept by a particular dress style, a specific culinary, tasks associated with cattle, music, dance and poetry.

My aim is to reflect through a series of potographs the socio-cultural aspects of the Gaucho culture.

Daniéle Da Meda was born in 1979 in Caxias do Sul, in the southernmost sate of Brazil - Rio Grande do Sul. She moved to London in 2000, where she was exposed to different cultures, different ways of living and seeing and where she developed her interest for photography and became passionate about it.

She believes that photography is a tool to connect to people, to capture and reflect people's culture, their relationship with others and their surroundings.

She finished a Black and White Photography course at the London College of Communication and for her final project she went back home to photograph the socio-cultural aspects of the people and place where she grew up. She produced a series of documentary photographs that reflects the Gaucho culture.

Daniéle is starting a BA (Photography) at The University of Westminster in September.

Daniéle Da Meda
Email: danieledemeda@yahoo.com.br
Tel: 0790 569 7746