A community-based photography space 

I'm Alexander, a photographer and visual artist — though many know me as El Pez, my artistic name. El Pez was born in 2024 out of a desire to share my own story through art and to create spaces where that story could spark connection and meaningful conversations — a response to the dehumanisation often present in today's world.

From that vision came Cómo vivió el pez, an artistic and social project based in the heart of Orzán (A Coruña, Spain), my neighbourhood. In this space, I exhibit my own work — with photographs that people are invited to touch — while also opening the doors to the community, turning it into a cultural meeting point. The project is part of a wider grassroots effort to transform the area: what was once an abandoned hot dog stand, in the middle of one of the city's main nightlife zones, is now being reimagined by local collectives as a space for diverse cultural expression.

My mission is to bring art closer to people, breaking down barriers and creating new ways to experience it:

📸 Interactive exhibitions where people can touch and engage with the work
🤝 The space is made available for other artists to exhibit.
🌆 Street events that activate local cultural life.
📚 Open workshops exploring photography as a tool for social transformation

I call this approach Photographic Take Away — a concept that breaks with the traditional gallery format and invites people to consume art in a more casual, joyful and everyday way. Like taking home a meal, but with images and stories.

My work is grounded in values such as social participation, intercultural dialogue, and the recognition of new photographic references, especially from racialised and historically marginalised perspectives.

As a result, we are starting to encourage one another to overcome the fear of showing our work, building networks of mutual support among artists and fostering collaborations with local businesses that recognise the importance of art as a living force in the neighbourhood.

This is not just about showing images — it's about inviting people to see themselves, reflect, and reconnect with their community. It's about turning art into a shared, transformative experience — one that belongs to everyone.