In a World of Their Own: Carnival Dreamers & Makers, Photographs by Maria Nunes

Over the past decade, photographer Maria Nunes has been documenting the people who fight to uphold an ethos of Carnival in which creating and performing while paying homage to tradition is central. In a World of Their Own features Nunes’ stunning and sensitively made photographs of these dreamers and makers, from her unique perspective inside Trinidad Carnival. Through her lens, we enter yards and living rooms as traditions are passed on and skills are honed, we see ideas develop and costumes come to life. We take to stages, gayelles and streets, through the unfolding days of Carnival, revelling in all of the beauty, darkness, light, and colour of transcendental performances. A lyrical essay by Shivanee Ramlochan contributes ideas of document, archive and memory, while the words of several of the makers pictured here provide further, invaluable insight.

Featuring excerpts of interviews conducted with: Adrian Young, Alan Vaughan, Anderson Patrick, Darlington ‘Boysie’ Henry, Desmond Noel, Etienne Charles, Kemoi Harper, Lionel Jagessar Senior, Narcenio ‘Señor’ Gomez, Narrie Approo, Ronald Alfred, Shynel Brizan, Steffano Marcano, Stephanie Kanhai, Tekel ‘Salti’ Sylvan, Tracey Sankar-Charleau, and Wendell Manwarren.