Carl Carpenter
Carlos Carpintero is a young indigenous photographer of the Ngäbe-Buglé culture, born on April 29, 1991 in Panama. During the pandemic, he dedicated himself to portraying the indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé culture. With his portraits, he seeks to make known the different customs and traditions of these native peoples.
His work experience includes photographic work for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), a documentary on the manatee habitat in the Panama Canal, made for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama.
Throughout his career, he has won important national competitions such as the Carlos Endara Photography Contest and the Visual Arts Contest of the Ministry of Culture. In addition, he has received an honorary recognition from Columbus University, one of the most prestigious universities in Panama, for his photographic work in favor of the Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous peoples.
With a clear vision and a passion for photography, Carlos Carpintero continues to dedicate himself to the promotion and preservation of Panama’s indigenous cultures through his lens, contributing significantly to the appreciation and respect of these rich traditions.
In the indigenous cultures of America there was the cacique, a king who governed the territories he dominated, reigned with power and defended his people. They were the wise men, in charge of guiding their tribes. In our Ngäbe-Buglé culture, there were chiefs who defended their people from the oppression of the Spanish upon their arrival in America. One of them was Urracá, the great chief who defended the Ngäbe-Buglé peoples and fought against the oppression of the conquerors. It is said that his death is still a mystery and the location of his grave is unknown to this day.
The Ngäbe indigenous woman is in charge of promoting our culture. Thanks to them, customs and traditions are still preserved. The image shows how they teach the arts to their daughters and granddaughters, sowing seeds for posterity.
• Photo Exhibition: The Ngäbe-Buglé Indigenous People, Waldorf Astoria Hotel
• Exhibition: International Coffee Fair, Boquete, Panama
• Book: History of Chiriquí
• Documentary: History and Origin of the Dress of the Ngäbe-Buglé Indigenous People
