Drei deutsche Punks in Portugal: “This way we live”

Im Jahre 2008 entschieden sich die drei Punks Noni, Dirk and Daniel für ein naturverbundenes, autarkes Leben in der portugiesischen Algarve. Der französische Polaroid-Fotograf Marion Dubier lernte sie dort auf einem Markt kennen und war von ihrer Lebensweise so beeindruckt, dass er sie wieder in ihrer Enklave besuchte und später sogar dort blieb um durch seine Fotos zu zeigen, wie weit ab sie vom eigentlichen Punk-Klischee ihr Leben samt Kindern organisieren. Dabei heraus kam diese wirklich schöne und durchaus nahegehende Fotoserie, die das Journal De Da Photographie gerade zeigt.

Three years ago, three German punks decided to move to this mountainous forest region to create with their own hands a place that would fulfill their needs (food, housing, animal breeding, cheese, bread, jam) and their ideals (solidarity, libertarian, environmentalist, and non-capitalistic).

The site would become, over the years, and after many disappointments, a place where people live (men, women, children, friends) and a place where people come (the Woofers: World Wide Opportunities in Organic Farming).

Noni, Dirk and Daniel, joined by Anna, are committed to a responsible and organized way of life. Their initiative is one of self-sufficiency and non-violent individual and collective liberty.

This series of photos shows that an alternative movement putting one’s ideals into practice is not only still possible in today’s society, but necessary.

I want to show an image of punks that differs from their portrayal in the media: those nihilistic panhandling junkies with dogs.

The first time I met them, they were selling goat cheese, bread and vegetables at a flea market in Barao de Sao Joao in Portugal. I was touched by their laughing, benevolent attitude. They invited me and a friend who lives in the region to dinner, and they gave me permission to photograph them. The more time I spent in their company, the more they fascinated me. I decided to return and stay with them in order to understand what they had come to find here, what they had left behind, and what future they were building for themselves and their children.

Hier noch ein kleiner Trailer, der allerdings viel weniger aussagt, als die tollen Fotos von Dubier.

(Direktlink, via NeoJellyfish)