My first visit to South America was certainly challenging, but it remains one of the most vivid experiences I’ve had in my search for unique successor stories. That original journey led me deep into the uncharted trails of the Amazon rainforest, allowing me to witness firsthand how local indigenous cultures struggle to preserve their identities in today’s modern world. This initial journey led to the creation of ‘The Shaman’s Apprentice’ image series.
As a creative, I knew that my time there was just a small glimpse into the vast and culturally rich lands of South America, but I was completely hooked. That first journey sparked a powerful interest in this part of the world, which I was eager to explore. his is why, to the surprise of anyone, in the spring of 2018 I decided to return to South America once more.
On this second journey, I decided to strayed away from the dense Amazonian rainforest and set my sights on the wild plains of legendary Argentina. My aim was to explore the story of a local culture that only emerged a few hundred years ago - the Gauchos.
While the peak of their glory days took place during the arrival of Spanish settlers to Argentina during the 16th century, even today the Gauchos are still known as referred to as ‘Men of the Wilds.’
The Gaucho way of life and cultural significance were shaped by Argentina’s rugged landscapes. Even now, Argentina hosts some of the harshest and most unforgiving terrains in the world. As settlers struggled to make these lands their home, the Gauchos played a crucial role in this endeavor. These brave men were the pioneers, venturing deep into the unknown, exploring Argentina’s untamed frontiers, and becoming the masters of survival in the wilds.
Over time, Gauchos became highly sought-after workers, primarily employed by agricultural communities. Their two main occupations were pathfinding—locating usable routes for new grazing grounds—and herding, often retrieving lost cattle that had strayed too far.
But what solidified the Gauchos legendary status in Argentina’s culture was not only their contributions to the settlers’ survival—it was their unmatched expertise as some of the best horse tamers in the world.
My quest for a Gaucho successor led me to the eastern coast of Argentina, to the city of Mar Del Plata. There I met Jacinto and his family — all descendants of different Gaucho lineages, who followed in their ancestors footsteps and carried on this unique legacy into the modern era.
I came to learn that as the need for Gauchos to venture into the wilds slowly diminished over time. This lead many Gaucho families to adapted their way of life. In the modern day many family, just like Jacinto’s family, use their skills to act as expert manager of privately owned cattle ranches who value a more sustainable and natural herding practices.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that Jacinto didn’t have just one successor for his Gaucho lifestyle… he had three.
Each of his three children follows their father’s footsteps, embracing the Gaucho way of life with their own unique expertise. His eldest son is the family’s top horse rider and tamer, while his daughter has taken charge of the cattle and horse management with a meticulous attention to detail.
Lastly, my personal favorite and the youngest of the three - eight-year-old Bartto (Bartolome). While still being too young to help around the farm, Bartto refuses to go anywhere without his own beret and thick leather belt - the iconic marking Gaucho. Constantly trailing his father across the grounds, eagerly soaking up every bit of Gaucho knowledge he can.
Jacinto’s family heritage is particularly famous for their history of horse taming, known all across Argentina for taking part in breeding one of Argentina’s most iconic horse breeds—the legendary ‘Criollo’.
A mix of Arabian and Spanish horses, the Criollo horses are considered one of the toughest and most durable breeds in the world. The breed’s reputation was cemented when Jacinto’s grandfather decided to prove their worth by riding two of his Criollos horses all the way from their ancestral home in Argentina to a cattle fair in New York City—crossing mountains, rivers, and deserts just to make a point.
One of the most important moments I had with Jacinto’s family occurred while watching his eldest son ride one of their freshly tamed Criollo horses. As we observed his son tune the horse’s pace, Jacinto shared more about his personal life:
“I didn’t always work on a farm like this - I used to have a very different life before my family. I worked deep in the wilds and loved every minute of it.”
He paused, then pointed firmly at his eldest son.
“But this is much more meaningful. I’m so grateful I can guide my kids into the world of Gauchos. For me, being a ‘man of the wild’ doesn’t mean isolation. It means being surrounded by family and knowing that, no matter what, we’ve got each other’s backs.”
Jacinto’s words caught me off guard. They painted a very different picture of the iconic image of the Gauchos, who are often described as reclusive men with no ties to society, as wild as the land itself. But his words echoed a change.
Jacinto takes great pride in his family’s close connection to the Gaucho legacy. He has embraced the reality that their ever-evolving lifestyle has transformed this once-isolated existence into one centered around family. Finding strength through unity rather than isolation.
Originally, I expected to tell a very different story about the Gauchos of Argentina, but I believe there is much to be learned from this cultural experience.
As an observer, I found the change in the Gaucho culture reassuring. The more I learn about cultures and their modern-day successors, the more I see how they find their footing through family structures. Allowing ancient knowledge and expertise, which were once hidden in, becoming cornerstones for cultural growth.
In a way, being a Gaucho was never simply about surviving in hostile parts of the world. It was a cultural reaction that allowed humans to explore and settle some of the most inhospitable frontiers through incredible individuals. Allowing this culture of intrepid exploration to spread into the family cell allowed the Gauchos to continue in our modern day. Teaching us to embrace unique lifestyles and, just like Jacinto’s family, always ‘have each other’s backs’ as humanity continue to develop new and old traditions in our ever-changing world.
This image series and storyline is part of my long-term project ‘The Successors.’ There are many unique and extraordinary cultures worldwide whose future lies in the hands of their modern-day successors—young individuals whose decisions and personal journeys will determine the future of ancient arts and traditions, shaping the world of their communities for thousands of years.
This image series and storyline is part of my long-term project ‘The Successors.’ There are many unique and extraordinary cultures worldwide whose future lies in the hands of their modern-day successors—young individuals whose decisions and personal journeys will determine the future of ancient arts and traditions, shaping the world of their communities for thousands of years.
Join me as I explore more of these stories of succession and try to uncover the future of these relics of the human experience.
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