Omen. The Farm Security Administration Archive 1935-1944 by

The concept of an "omen" carries a rich history, originating from Latin to describe something that portends future events, whether good or bad. This idea is vividly illustrated in the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, where the passage of Halley's Comet is depicted as an omen foretelling the death of King Harold.

In the realm of photography, León Muñoz Santini and Jorge Panchoaga’s work, "Omen," draws a parallel between these ancient signs and historical documentary photographs. They interpret these images as modern-day omens, offering a retrospective glance into our past while hinting at future implications.

The documentary effort began in 1935 amid global political turmoil and environmental disasters. The Resettlement Administration (RA) and later the Farm Security Administration (FSA) tasked photographers like Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans to capture the era's struggles. This resulted in a powerful visual record that transcends time.

Santini and Panchoaga’s work resurrects these images, transforming them into a dialogue between past and present. By doing so, they challenge us to reconsider how we interpret historical photographs—not just as records of the past, but as active participants in shaping our understanding of the present and future.