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 international photo agency Hans Lucas.

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

>>>  Helvécia was exhibited at Fotográfica Bogotá 2019 (COL), the MEG (Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève) from Oct 2022 to Jan 2023, the Swiss National Museum in Zürich from Sept 2024 to Jan 2025 and will be exhibited at the Swiss National Museum in Prangins from March to Oct 2026.

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