In 1953 The United States and Spain signed an agreement of mutual defense and economic aid and they decided to build an Aero-naval Base in the municipality of Rota in Cádiz. Of the 8.000 acres that constitute the town, about 2.400 belong to the Base, and so the constant presence of a fence is drawn into the landscape of this small community: although it constitutes a physical barrier between the communities, it also lets the culture and traditions of the north Americans seep through its gaps.
In the 70s Christian’s family moved to Rota and he was raised between these cultural and social influences.
In 2011 the author begins to observe and to look around in an effort to try to make sense out of his life and his roots.
He decides to portray the people that are a part of his reality, the places that are a part of his memories and those signals that slowly help him solve the numerous questions he has on identity and memory: this is what gives life to his project.

En 1953, Estados Unidos y España firmaron un acuerdo de defensa mutua y ayuda económica, en la que pactaron construir una Base Aeronaval en el municipio de Rota, Cádiz. De las 8.000 hectáreas que conforman este municipio, unas 2.400 pertenecen a la Base, dibujando en el paisaje de esta pequeña población la presencia constante de una valla, que a pesar de constituir una barrera física entre comunidades, deja escapar por sus rendijas las costumbres y tradiciones norteamericanas.
Alrededor de los años 70 la familia de Christian se instala en Rota, lo que hace que éste crezca rodeado de estas influencias culturales y sociales.
Es en el año 2011 cuando el autor comienza a observar y girar sobre sí mismo para comprender e intentar dar sentido a la base de su vida, sus raíces.
Retrata a esos personajes que conforman su realidad, esos lugares que son parte de sus recuerdos y esas señales que poco a poco le ayudan a resolver las numerosas cuestiones sobre identidad y memoria que animan este proyecto.

2011-2015 Up Around the Bend

Cuadernos de la Kursala + FUEGO BOOKS May 2015 First edition

ISBN 978-84-943983-0-8
Kursala-Fuego Books, 2015
Concept and edition: Christian Lagata & Walter Costa
Design: Tres Tipos Gráficos
Prepress: Víctor Garrido
Coordination: Gonzalo Golpe
Thread-sewn with dust cover
16,5 x 22 cm
84 pages
Edition 1000
Available since June 2015

See the book at https://vimeo.com/129877907