Marginal Waters is a photographic series that immerses itself in the historical and cultural waters of the ancient water fountains of Salvador, Bahia, navigating through the identity and collective memory of the city.

The water fountains, such as the Fonte da Pedreira, Fonte Gamboa de Baixo, Fonte da Bica, and the Fonte do Chega Nego, portrayed between 2022 and 2024, are silent witnesses to the history of Salvador, from colonial times to the present day.

During the colonial period, these fountains were the main source of water supply for the city's early mechanisms, primarily transported by enslaved labour.

Today, degraded by time and neglected by public authorities, as well as outdated socio-cultural policies, the fountains are marginalised places, used by the vulnerable population of the city, reflecting the social inequalities and the ancestral struggle for basic rights.

The territory of waters becomes a political territory, of resistance and reunions, where water is not just a physical resource, but also a symbol of identity and cultural resistance.

Through photo performances, the series seeks to document the nature of the water use of each fountain, highlighting its historical and cultural significance, as well as the challenges faced by these spaces. Collaborating with local artists and those from other states, the performances explore the movements of these bodies of water in dialogue with the fountains.

Technical Details:

Research and photography: Emanoel Saravá

Performances:

• Ricardo Boa Sorte - Fonte da Gamboa de Baixo
• Quilomba Zu - Fonte do Chega Nego
• Joseh Jará - Fonte da Bica

Support: Proext, UFBA.