Femmes d’autres mondes

The photographer is exhibiting a series of portraits of renowned actresses in the garden of the Jolimont Observatory. From his native village in Galicia to New York, these luminous figures also tell the story of his personal journey.

Women from Other Worlds is a photographic installation by Manuel Outumuro. It was first presented in A Merca in 2024. It was in this small village, in the heart of rural Galicia, that the photographer was born and raised until the age of 10. Plunged into the abandonment of what is now called

“empty Spain,” the village is now almost deserted. It was precisely an elderly neighbor who, upon seeing the photographs the artist was about to display, remarked that they reminded her of “women from other worlds.”

A collection of snapshots, this series shows us faces that hint at a distant elegance and sophistication. These are elusive women, beauties highlighted by the black-and-white imagery of a somewhat Hollywood-esque style. They also speak to the journey, dreams, and aspirations of Manuel Outumuro. At first glance, these actresses have nothing in common with the women who shaped the photographer’s rural childhood in the 1950s. Yet, from different eras and backgrounds—some embodying the earth’s strength, others the radiance of light—all have imbued Manuel Outumuro’s photographic work with their magic. From his native village to New York, the artist has preserved the inspiring memories of his childhood that have fueled his creative power. And with others, he still shares the camaraderie of numerous photo sessions to capture visions and fantasies on paper.

The exhibitions at the Observatory are organized in collaboration with the Scientific, Technical, and Industrial Directorate (DCSTI) of Toulouse Métropole, the City of Toulouse’s Plant Heritage Directorate, and the Société d’Astronomie Populaire, whom we thank for their hospitality.