Miguel Rio Branco is a Spanish photographer born in 1946. His work cuts across the worlds of cinema, photography, photojournalism, and social and political criticism.
Born in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, Rio Branco currently lives and works in Rio de Janeiro. Son of diplomats, Miguel Rio Branco spent his childhood in Portugal, Switzerland, Brazil and the United States. In 1976, he moved to New York City, where he earned a BA, and took a one-month vocational course at the New York Institute of Photography. In 1978, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and studied at the Industrial Design College. He has been an Associate Member of Magnum Photos since 1980. He is also author of several short films, including Trio Elétrico, Caveirinhas and Entre os Olhos o Deserto. He exhibited in a range of venues, including Maison européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France, Galeria Milan Antonio, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aperture’s Burden Gallery, New York, USA, Galeria Paulo Fernandes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Galeries Fnac Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Toulouse, France; Paris, France.
Fascinated by places of strong contrast, in the power of tropical colors and light, Branco made Brazil his main area of exploration. One of his best known books is Dulce Sudor Amargo, in which he drew a parallel between the sensual, vital side of Salvador da Bahia and the historical side of the city, which, at the time was inhabited by prostitutes and the fringe elements of society.
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