A River Odyssey

Marcelo Sandoval takes Conchita Fernandes through a riveting journey, across the heart of the alluring Paraguayan waterways.

- Marcelo Sandoval

Over the course of hundreds of centuries, the river has been an observer and participant of numerous historical narratives. It has been a witness to births and deaths, conflict and harmony, infinite love and malice… gradually amassing a great many secrets. Yet, for most, the river does not easily reveal this side of itself, or rather chooses to do so in the company of those who pay close attention to its subtle ripples. One of them was Marcelo Sandoval, who witnessed an alluring view of the waters in his hometown in Paraguay.

Connecting the Past with the Present

Marcelo has always been enthralled by the idea of how the past manages to make its existence felt in the present. “It has become so easy for us to forget where we come from,” he comments, and feels that nature always finds a way of reminding us of this, every now and then.

In Marcelo’s case, he found his calling in the Paraguay River. “The name Paraguay means ‘water originated from diversity’. It was this diversity that enticed me into further exploring the relationship between the communities residing along the river, and how their history has shaped the surroundings over the years,” he said. “That said, what really got this project rolling was when I realised that whenever I asked someone about their favourite memories, they almost always had something to do with the river. This was fascinating... to see how people are somehow connected to the river.”

Chronicling the Landscape