Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Photo

These Are the Makeshift Homes of Spanish Hippies, Ravers And Punks

A 21st century counter-culture.

Images Via

I was thinking recently about how remote from the natural world our lives are now. Our dwelling places protect us from the elements. But there are people who don’t have that luxury. For some, it’s by necessity but for others there’s an element of choice….they choose to live a semi-nomadic lifestyle, separate from mainstream society.

In an exhibition entitled, ‘The Riverbed’, at The Architectural Association Gallery in London, photographer and writer Ben Murphy has documented a group of such communities in a remote mountainous area of south-east Spain with a series of photos of peoples’ dwellings, ranging from vehicles to makeshift huts.

Looking at the pictures, words that come to my mind are ‘precarious’, ‘uncomfortable’, ‘rustic’. I wonder why anyone would choose to live like that. Maybe they don’t really choose. But one of the nice things about Ben Murphy’s portrayal of these people is the respect he shows them and their way of life. He definitely portrays them as choosing this life style…for various reasons…some have been influenced by the ‘hippie’ culture of the 60’s, others are punks, anarchists, ravers, new travelers, hedonists and so on. It’s a counter-culture.

This story and the exhibition is rich with irony. There’s the irony of the title: the riverbed…a place that’s cold and uninhabitable – no human can live in a river – and yet, it’s a bed..a place of softness, comfort, safety refuge. And that same irony inhabits the exhibition, the images and the people represented. Who is living a fuller, freer life – me, living in my house with strong walls and air conditioning ‘protected’ from the elements, or these people whose lives and dwellings are more open to nature and the elements?

Alpha and Imani (i). From ‘The Riverbed,’ Andalucia, Spain © Ben Murphy
Hilla and Ayeohh. From ‘The Riverbed,’ Andalucia, Spain © Ben Murphy
Morgan. From ‘The Riverbed,’ Andalucia, Spain © Ben Murphy
Written By

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Support Real Ones. Fund the Future.

If you read this far, you get it: young voices matter. At TRILL, every story is written by emerging writers telling the truth in a media landscape that too often silences them.

We run ads, yeah. But they don’t run us. We’re independent, mission-driven, and powered by people who believe young storytellers deserve more than just “exposure.”

Your donation goes straight to mentorship, editorial support, and launching the next wave of Gen Z writers into media careers that matter.

If that matters to you, chip in. Even $5 helps keep TRILL free, fearless, and independent.

Donate Now →
Advertisement
Advertisement

You May Also Like

Books

How to choose your perfect reads during this summer season.

Entertainment

If you're looking for a new cozy game to play, look no further than "Date Everything!"

Paris Haute Couture WeekParis Haute Couture Week

Style

Paris Haute Couture week is back this summer as designers defy fashion logic as each collection bolsters l’élégance n’a pas de prix.

Books

The romantic comedy is having a moment—and honestly, it's about time.