The Swimmers

This book is a meditation on resilience, recovery and the elemental power of water. Born from an accident that profoundly marked the artist and forced him to confront the fragility of the body, the series transforms swimming into a poetic exploration of healing, discipline, and the quiet endurance of body and mind. Spanish photographer Jorge Perez Ortiz presents The Swimmers, a contemplative photographic series exploring the relationship between the human body, water, and resilience. Born from an accident in Colombia that left him hospitalized with a fractured vertebra and facing the possibility of never walking again, the series reflects a profound journey of physical and emotional recovery. Produced over three years, the series captures swimmers in and around water ― suspended in moments of effort, reflection, and stillness. Known for his cinematic sensitivity and raw intimacy, he invites viewers into a world of shimmering water, sun-warmed skin, and quiet determination. The images reveal a choreography of light and flesh that pulses with sensuality and discipline. Based in Barcelona, Jorge Pérez Ortiz trained in fine art at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan and then at the London College of Fashion (UAL), after transitioning from painting and sculpture to photography, drawn by its narrative power. His imagery is characterised by the use of natural light and a sculptural attention to the human body. He has worked with renowned fashion brands such as Jacquemus, Loewe and Louis Vuitton. Most recently, he collaborated with Wales Bonner on Midnight Palms, a project shot in Dakar, Senegal, which celebrates youth, community and friendship through the rhythms of the coastal city.