Ruy de Lacló:

He demonstrated an early interest in photography, particularly in the fields of art and design. As a teenager, the school’s darkroom became his creative haven, where he spent countless hours developing photographs. Later, after completing his academic training, he rediscovered his passion for photography.
With more refined technical skills, photography became a means of personal expression, enabling him to better understand and showcase the world around him.
In the compositions he captures, Ruy de Lacló strives to document realities through his lens, with each image reflecting the ethnographic uniqueness of a moment that will never occur again. The photographs featured in this remarkable book are the result of his time spent in Timor-Leste, particularly in the Oecusse region, where he witnessed not only a country in reconstruction but also the stark reality of the living conditions endured by the Timorese people.
He captured everyday moments that best epitomised and contextualised the reality of a resilient people-enduring and fighting yet displaying great fortitude. Though often resigned to the hardships of the land and the relentless heat, they remain full of dignity and possess a strong desire to learn how to live in a modern, developed world without abandoning their cultures and traditions.
Through this outstanding photographic collection-exceptional not only for its photography but also for its selection, graphic design, and editing-Ruy de Lacló sought to offer a glimpse of Timor-Leste: its faces, clothing, joy, and sorrow, but above all, the aspects of daily life and the customs of a people who always deserve the best.
With his refined aesthetic and artistic sensibility, he has captured the subtlety, elegance, and beauty that Timor has to offer.