Around a century ago, the Argentinian rail network was enjoying a period of strong growth. The state was expanding agricultural frontiers and capitalizing on areas that held value. When fertile land was discovered, a train station was built, and the land was split up into plots for families to settle on and farm.

Not only did the railroad provide a way for these farmers to transport their crops to the markets of nearby cities, but also brought with it the high wages of railroad workers. Before long, thriving communities were established.

However, in the sixties, a plan was introduced to reduce railway transportation by a third in favor of motorway transport. Over subsequent decades, the rail connections acting as essential lifelines for these settlements were closed and dismantled, strangling economies and leading to mass migration – in turn devastating local communities.

“Each one of these inhabitants is like a cathedral of nostalgia erected in the middle of loneliness. Portrayed as guests to their own world, these images offer a glimpse into their stories.”

As one of the global grant award recipients of the GFX Challenge Grant Program 2021, Rodrigo received $10,000 to help fund his project. And while the money was essential for making the series happen, it provided him with much more than financial support.

“I was excited when I found out – and I am excited right now, just remembering it! Such recognition reinforced the value of my work. This project is not only extremely important for me, but also the country, so for Fujifilm to have selected it means so much as both a human and an Argentinian.”

Rodrigo explains how the physical existence of The Cathedrals of Nostalgia is just the beginning of the value brought by the grant.

The opportunities the project has presented and the awareness it continues to raise mean value is still felt today – and will resonate long into the future.