After five years of travel and research in Brazil by Dom Smaz - documentory photographer - and Milena Machado - journalist -, this historical case study illustrated with photography investigates the little-known history of Helvécia - a village founded in the early 19th century by a handful of Swiss and German settlers. With a concession ceded in 1818 by the Royal Government of Brazil, the settlers developed a colony that would quickly prosper with the work of a large enslaved labor force of African descent and the support of the Swiss Government. The colony became one of Brazil's largest coffee exporters until slavery was abolished in 1888.

It seems important to us that this subject is covered, both for the Swiss people and for the inhabitants of Helvécia, who for the most part have limited knowledge of their own history. Moreover, the fragile traces of the past are on the verge of disappearing. In the village, little is done to preserve history, both materially and educationally. In the Swiss and Brazilian archives, a few rare documents are kept, often falling to dust and in too poor condition to be digitized. We were lucky enough to photograph some of them which are reproduced in the book. In addition to photos and documents, the latter is contextualized with historical facts and cultural aspects by different authors.

>>>  Dom Smaz is a Swiss-Brazilian documentary photographer based in Lausanne, Switzerland, who works worldwide, including Brazil. Six times awarded the Swiss Press Award, he has been working for the Swiss and international press since 2011. Smaz’s favorite themes are often linked to colonial heritage, racism, social inequalities and exclusion. A graduate from the Vevey School of Photography, he is a member of the French agency Hans Lucas.

>>>  Helvécia, a Swiss colonial history in Brazil is a book published by Lars Müller Publishers (November 2022, English/French/German)

>>>  Helvécia was exhibited at Fotográfica Bogotá 2019 and at the MEG (Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève) from October 2022 to January 2023

>>>  Helvécia won a 2nd place at the Swiss Press Award 2023