TITLE: Sand Script — A History of Nicaragua

This series explores how patterns of sand can trace the history of a place. During my daily walks along a stretch of beach in Aposentillo, Nicaragua, I was struck by the unique images left behind by retreating waves. It occurred to me that the layers of light and dark volcanic particles convey deeper meanings. There is a dialogue between the land and the ocean — a visual communication transmitted by the perpetual movement of water and sand. It is the symbolic discourse of place. In this case, the script reveals the origin of Nicaragua and its tumultuous past. The writing also foreshadows what might come as traditional ways of life are disrupted by the arrival of tourism and the increased investment of foreign capital. It is as if the land and the ocean are channelling the spirit of the Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío and his images of deep sea-swells and charcoal horizons.

AUTHOR: Pieter de Vos (Canada)

Pieter de Vos is a documentary photographer, facilitator, and engaged academic. He has a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Alberta. His research focuses on using narrative and visual methods to explore community understandings of home and belonging. He has recently started venturing into the world of human-centred design, which resonates with his commitment to honouring the stories people live by.

Over the past several years, Pieter has enriched his practice by using participatory photography, digital storytelling, and arts-based methods to expand the possibilities for collaboration and dialogue. He has facilitated workshops using these methods in South Africa, Kenya, Sweden, Tanzania, Pakistan, Haiti, and the USA. These community-based projects have animated the dialogue on poverty and homelessness, HIV/AIDS, childhood injury, and gender relations.