Tarona is an artist and director whose work spans film and photography, seamlessly moving between autonomous and commercial realms. Central to her process is a deep engagement with identity, human experience, and new perspectives on seeing and being.
Tarona has always been attracted to bright, abundant, excessive and defying visual expressiveness — Caribbean + Latin-American carnival have all these factors for her — bringing her closer to her inner spirit, hearts desires and expression to be all of those things. In this way, carnival does for her exactly what it needs to be doing; giving her permission to liberate herself and go against societal norms. The desire to break from the norm is also expressed in the focus of the images; not only does it amplify the details of the costumes — it also moves away from how carnival is usually photographed. It encourages a new way of seeing and experiencing; it gives the opportunity to look closer in a sea of abundance and to know that by looking closer, a whole new world of wonder is exposed through its details.
Through this project, she aims to celebrate these details while honoring the rich cultural heritage of Caribbean and Latin-American carnivals, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the vibrant artistry and its historical significance.