Self-Portrait

"I live with my grandmother. My grandmother always said to me if you have a big camera you must take a photo of me. She became very excited when she saw I had a camera and she washed and dressed up for the picture. We are wearing traditional tais. In my district of Lospalos we wear tais for important ceremonies like weddings and funerals.”

Memories

”This man reminds me of my childhood. When I was in primary school I lived with my parents in Lospalos who grew vegetables. Most days I would carry the vegetables on a stick from village to village to sell. Now I live with my grandmother in Dili. I need to be in Dili to prepare for university and learn Tetun. In the district I only spoke my native dialect, Makasae.”

Betel Nut

"This woman is chewing betel nut. She reminds me of my grandmother in Lospalos who has passed away. My grandmother would chew betel nut all day and would not eat much food.”

Beach

“In Dili the beaches become very dirty after heavy rain as the rivers become full and wash the rubbish down to the sea. It is very hot in Dili so the children don’t care and still swim in the sea.”

Vegetables

"When my eldest sister was studying in Dili my parents did not have much money, so my younger sister and I grew and sold vegetables to help pay her school fees. Now that my sister is working she helps to pay my school fees.”

Lunch

“On Sunday I went to the park in Dili. I bought lunch from these two girls so I asked them if I could take their photo.”

Self-Portrait

Memories

Betel Nut

Beach

Vegetables

Lunch

Gallery | solo 6

Maria Fidelia Da Costa Noronha

“Series of six”

Eskola Cristal,

Dili, Timor-Leste 2017