Painted Faces in the dominican Republic’s Business: Culture and creativity

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It's the third part of a four-part photo documentation series about popular graphics in the Dominican Republic.

Digital & 35mm analog Photography

Dominican photographer named Maurice Sanchez has a project called "Flow Tropical" that documents popular Dominican graphics.

When I first started seeing his posts on Instagram, they seemed nothing special to me, since it is normal for us as Dominicans to see paintings like this in various businesses.

But over time, I learned to appreciate them, and without realizing it, every time I saw a painting, I took pictures, so I knew they were not as easy to find as I thought; it awakened my desire to document them. I realized how day-to-day things go overlooked.

How does something so characteristic of us go unnoticed? Is it so easy to forget something about our culture?

Like any developing society, everything is gradually changing; therefore, part of the culture is lost. It is a record of these paintings disappearing from businesses across the country as society modernizes.

To find these, I had to go to neighborhoods in the city that still have these paintings and explore outside the city. I took the photos with whatever I had, sometimes with a disposable camera or cellphone.

People do not understand why I like taking these pictures; what is so special about them? However, when I explain why I document and publish them, they realize they are less common than they once were.

These paintings represent the beauty of the simple, everyday life itself, and an expression of Dominicanness.

They are humorous, creative, and simple, but show the message they want to communicate about the business straight away.

Inspired by Maurice Sanchez's "Flow Tropical" project, for which a photo book has already been published, I began documenting these overlooked paintings that define the essence of Dominican culture.

Through this visual exploration, I want to raise awareness of the subtle, fading shades of our heritage and encourage us all to preserve the unique treasures that make us who we are.

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Nikari Dominguez

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