With his debut solo exhibition in Paris, ‘Echoes of the Amazon’, Gleeson Paulino shares his tender take on this precious region of Brazil. Presented by Galerie Gomis at Sheriff Projects in collaboration with Tales, the series sits at the cross-roads of his practice spanning art and fashion photography and environmental activism. The artist’s ongoing series treats us to a rare and dreamlike glimpse of the splendour of this vital yet jeopardised ecosystem and the indigenous communities who care for it. Marie Gomis-Trezise, founder/curator at Galerie Gomis and Nataal creative director, says: "Gleeson’s work is a love letter to the Amazon and its communities. His images present the people as they live today – far from the anthropological gaze often seen in Western portrayals.”

Here, we speak to this rising star – who has received global accolades and contributed to titles from Vogue to Nataal – about this heartfelt project that equally draws on his own paternal heritage and expression of Brazilian identity.

In what ways does ‘Echoes of the Amazon’ reflect your wider encounters with nature?

Growing up in Brazil, I was shaped by a complex relationship with nature, one that was both poetic and, at times, distant due to the confines of my sheltered upbringing. As I travelled and expanded my perspective, I felt a pull back to the Amazon – not just as a place, but as a living entity that holds memory, wisdom and urgency.

How did your exploration of the Amazon unfold?

I first engaged with the Amazon through a deep personal calling – an instinctive need to reconnect with the land, its people and my ancestry, and the stories embedded in its rhythms. This personal journey quickly evolved into a dialogue, a way to witness and honour the communities that exist in harmony with the forest despite ongoing threats to their way of life.

What do you hope viewers take away from the exhibition?

Through this series, I want to communicate the Amazon’s dual reality – the breathtaking beauty and the ever-present fragility. I want audiences to feel the depth of its resilience, to see the strength of the people who have safeguarded this ecosystem for generations, and to understand the forces that threaten their existence. It’s about presence, survival, and the delicate balance between human life and the natural world. More than anything, I hope the work stirs a sense of responsibility and connection, reminding us that the Amazon is not just a distant landscape, but a vital, beating heart that concerns us all.

Galerie Gomis and Tales present ‘Echoes of the Amazon’ by Gleeson Paulino, 26 March – 2 April, 2025 at Sheriff Projects, Le Marais, Paris.