Kate Stanworth is an award-winning photographer based in London. Her work explores stories of human resilience, identity, and the search for belonging.

This is her intro to her project La Locura:

“All of life is carnival!”

These are the upbeat lyrics sung by La Locura de Boedo, a group of locals who dream all year of performing in Buenos Aires’ February street parades. Becoming a member of the troupe means more than just momentary escape. It signifies refuge, salvation and a reason for living for those struggling through economic crises on the margins of Argentine society.  

Over eight years, I have spent summers in the southern hemisphere photographing La Locura, exploring their dreams, desires and loves, against the often austere backdrop of life in the working class neighbourhoods of the city. The resulting project is a meditation on resistance, collective creativity, and the search for belonging.

Published by The Guardian

I have had the privilege to work with Kate Stanworth on her excellent project La Locura, editing her extensive material for a book.
As always when I edit for long term projects such as this I feel a big responsability towards the photographer, to represent the work at its best and to convey the meaning and the strenght of the project in an impactul way: I know how much time, passion and stubborn (bordering sometimes on heroic) dedication photographers pour into these projects, and when the subject is socially relevant, I also feel a responsability towards the people portraited, because it’s one of the few chances they have to be visible, and make their voice be heard.

With this work, the story was so strong that pictures have truly chosen themselves. During the preparation for La Locura one can perceive the building up of hope, and touch the resilience, endurance and dignity of the subjects Kate photographed until all these feelings explode during the carnival in joy and freedom, so authentic and powerful that they become inspiring and liberating for the viewer.

I love all the different works that photographers share with me, but there are a few that stay with me for a long time, and this is certainly one of those.