Beer? A diploma? A house? Bolivian modest hopes and dreams in miniature in pictures | Working in
Publish date: 2024-04-29
Beer? A diploma? A house? Bolivian modest hopes and dreams in miniature – in pictures
At the Alasitas festival this week Bolivians offer up models of their desires to Ekeko, the Andean god of abundance. Photographer Eduardo Leal captures some of the most popular
Fri 27 Jan 2017 11.18 GMT Last modified on Fri 6 Oct 2017 13.13 BST
The millionaire’s suitcase
This suitcase comes with dollars, euros or Bolivianos, travel tickets, a passport, credit card, a laptop and a mobile phone. It even comes with phonecards so people can have endless credit on their mobile for the year.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe university degree
Students look for this so as not to fail any subjects during the academic year.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe party
Beer is a popular Bolivian drink, and Bolivians can always find an excuse for a party.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe business
In Bolivia working for someone else often means lower wages, so many people dream of owning their own business. Pharmacies are one of the most profitable businesses as there is always a need for medicines, but there are also miniatures of any kind of businesses at the festival. The car park in front of the shop is a sign of prosperity and financial success.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe family basket
This model represents having enough food at home during the year. Just 15 years ago 85% of the population in Bolivia lived in poverty, so the memory of shortage runs deep, making this model a very popular one for people to buy during the Alasitas festival.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe house
Many people dream of owning their own house. In Bolivia people usually set up a business in the ground floor of their house, or rent out the space to another business.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe car
Having a car either for work or for personal use is one of the signs of prosperity and financial success. The minivan represents a bigger family and also a business opportunity as it can be used as a source of income.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe construction materials
Some people wish to finish a construction that they have underway. They could be building their own house, a business or something else. So this model features construction materials including cement, bricks, sand, tiles. Sometimes it features a property certificate or a legal contract as well.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe computer
As in most of the world, technology and a computer is a vital part of modern life.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe bathroom
Many houses in Bolivia still don’t have a proper bathroom, especially in the poorer areas, so it is common that families dream of having a bathroom in their house.Photograph: Eduardo Leal
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaJ%2BcpK%2BiuIydnK%2BdnKS9rrHNrWSpqp%2BbsrS%2FyKilmqSjYrumwNaoqaRnl5a5rbHRsmZraGFsfKutzWhpcGeSpLmqwsiaZJqkkai2ta3SZp2eq6Sew6K4jJ6inqOfYrSwsIymoKehkanCs7GMpqadnZyo