A recent photographic exhibition by Perfecto Arjones, titled “Traces of a Time. From a Time and a Country,” opened last December at the Llotja de Sant Jordi de Alcoy. It became a notable cultural moment, welcomed by both critics and the public, and its reception was consistently echoed by local outlets. Over the three months of its run, the show drew steady crowds who connected with its central premise: everyday life from a bygone era captured in images that still resonate with people who lived through those days. As the exhibition nears its final days, the last viewing opportunity is scheduled for Sunday, March 26, marking the end of a meaningful cultural dialogue [Citation: local press coverage and on-site observations].
The display exceeded expectations with more than 300 visitors on a single day, and daily attendance averaged around two hundred throughout the period. People return not just for the photographs but for the intimate, familiar feeling these scenes induce, inviting viewers to linger on memories that feel both personal and universal. A broad network of contributors expanded the show’s reach, with several creators producing content that further engages the public. In several instances, individuals depicted recognized their own likenesses only when the images were displayed, a recognition that came more than half a century after the moments were captured [Citation: attendance records and curator interviews].
The exhibition’s power lies in how the photographs carry narratives beyond their obvious visuals. Observers note the subtle details—the texture of clothing, the glow of street lamps, the cadence of passing cars, the architectural silhouettes, the landscapes, and the everyday routines that defined life in those years. Taken together, these elements provide a tangible window into a past era and illustrate how memory can cross generations. The collection also includes photographs from regional festivities such as the Moors and Christians festival and Alcoyano celebrations in El Collao during the 1960s and 1970s, with Arjones’ work reflecting his role as a photojournalist for INFORMACIÓN during that period [Citation: exhibition catalog and archival notes].
In addition to the mounted panels, a striking feature of the show is a video display that cycles through a selection of images. The screen offers a dynamic, fleeting sequence of moments, providing viewers with a different pace from the still photographs. For viewers over sixty, the visuals often evoke a stronger sense of memory, yet the curatorial voice emphasizes that the exhibition resonates across ages, attracting interest from people of all generations. Notably, photography professionals traveled to Alcoy to experience the collection in person, including two individuals who arrived privately from Ontinyent to engage with the work on a recent Friday [Citation: staff notes and visitor testimonies].
The accompanying catalog presents a curated selection of images drawn from Arjones’ long-awaited repository of work. The show is organized through a collaboration of several key institutions: the Generalitat, the Akdeniz Foundation, the Alcoy City Council, and the Antoni Miró Chair of Contemporary Art at the University of Alicante. This coalition underscores the cultural importance of preserving photographic heritage and highlights how regional institutions support contemporary artists while maintaining a dialogue with local history [Citation: organizers’ press release and catalog notes].