Constanza Hevia H.

Photographer & Filmmaker

The Time I Have Left

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From his farm in southern Chil...volcanos.

From his farm in southern Chile, Hugo says the Osorno Volcano is majestic, imposing, and the most beautiful in the world. While this view has been with him every day, he often confuses it with other volcanos.

Hugo, the oldest man in the to...winter day on July 25th, 2016.

Hugo, the oldest man in the town of Las Cascadas, spends time sitting on his couch watching how the wind moves the trees on his farm on a cold winter day on July 25th, 2016.

During a childhood fishing tri... Navy right after high school.

During a childhood fishing trip with his father, Hugo was inspired watching fish going up steam. At that moment he knew he was destined to be close to the ocean. He joined the Chilean Navy right after high school.

For almost 3 years Hugo proudl... of his family's farm.

For almost 3 years Hugo proudly served on the Almirante Latorre. He wanted to stay on this battleship, but had to leave to take care of his family's farm.

On the cold winter days, Hugo ... near the woodstove.

On the cold winter days, Hugo loves to spend time sitting near the woodstove.

Connecting to the outside world.

Hugo watches the passing of ti...pective to the external world.

Hugo watches the passing of time in the outside world. The window offers Hugo the connection from his inner perspective to the external world.

A Chilean landscape Hugo never...her. He never turns that page.

A Chilean landscape Hugo never visited. I think he hangs it to see the ocean and feel the warm weather. He never turns that page.

They once slept on sheep&#...l join her as early as 3:30pm.

They once slept on sheep's wool, but now Wilma spends most of her time in a special bed for diabetes. When it’s cold, Hugo will join her as early as 3:30pm.

Documentaries, non-fiction, an...enced his memories.

Documentaries, non-fiction, and news. No game shows. No movies. I wonder how much of this influenced his memories.

Wilma and Hugo. Loss of memory...appy to communicate like this.

Wilma and Hugo. Loss of memory affects how they talk, but after 60 years of marriage, they are happy to communicate like this.

Hugo says the Chilean animals ...scattered memories.

Hugo says the Chilean animals were exported to Germany. I wonder if Hugo’s mind is like his other house: full of debris and scattered memories.

The same meal every day: sandwi...talk, but is quiet when eating.

The same meal every day: sandwich with cheese. He loves to talk, but is quiet when eating.

Wilma: I am cold like a frog.

Wilma, a few minutes later: Are the frogs cold?

Hugo: Yes, they are very cold.

Wilma, a few minutes later: Are the frogs cold?

Hugo: Yes, they are very cold.

I ask what he finds meaningful...r. His mind is like a collage.

I ask what he finds meaningful, but he never replies with a direct answer. He goes from one point to another. His mind is like a collage.

In a story told by Hugo, a ref...aven't been out since.

In a story told by Hugo, a reference to “the other day” could take place years ago. It’s like Hugo thinks his memories are preserved like these relics. They survived an earthquake in the 60’s and haven't been out since.

Although sometimes he doesn&...me, he knows that he loves her.

Although sometimes he doesn’t remember her name, he knows that he loves her.

Wilma rests in her bed on a co...er 22, 2019, at the age of 82.

Wilma rests in her bed on a cold winter day on January 2, 2018. Hugo passed away on September 7th, 2017, at the age of 96. Wilma asked about him every day, until the day of her death, on September 22, 2019, at the age of 82.

Evoking the complex workings o...d memories and sense of place.

Evoking the complex workings of Hugo's personal memory, the collage interlaces his past with his present. The Time I Have Left is a commemoration of Hugo's life and memories, and my reconnection with my own childhood memories and sense of place.

Hugo's Mind from Constanza Hevia H. on Vimeo.

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Thumbnail of From his farm in southern Chile_ volcanos.

Thumbnail of Hugo, the oldest man in the tow_ winter day on July 25th, 2016.

Thumbnail of During a childhood fishing trip_n Navy right after high school.

Thumbnail of For almost 3 years Hugo proudly_e of his family's farm.

Thumbnail of On the cold winter days, Hugo l_g near the woodstove.

Thumbnail of Connecting to the outside world.

Thumbnail of Hugo watches the passing of tim_spective to the external world.

Thumbnail of A Chilean landscape Hugo never _ther. He never turns that page.

Thumbnail of They once slept on sheep&#3_ll join her as early as 3:30pm.

Thumbnail of Documentaries, non-fiction, and_uenced his memories.

Thumbnail of Wilma and Hugo. Loss of memory _happy to communicate like this.

Thumbnail of Hugo says the Chilean animals w_ scattered memories.

Thumbnail of The same meal every day: sandwic_ talk, but is quiet when eating.

Thumbnail of Wilma: I am cold like a frog.&a_ Hugo: Yes, they are very cold.

Thumbnail of I ask what he finds meaningful,_er. His mind is like a collage.

Thumbnail of In a story told by Hugo, a refe_haven't been out since.

Thumbnail of Although sometimes he doesn&_ame, he knows that he loves her.

Thumbnail of Wilma rests in her bed on a col_ber 22, 2019, at the age of 82.

Thumbnail of Evoking the complex workings of_od memories and sense of place.

Public Project

The Time I Have Left

Copyright Constanza Hevia H. 2024

Updated May 2021

Location Las Cascadas, Chile

Topics Aging, Documentary, Dreams, Dying/Death, Editorial, Isolation, Latin America, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Senior Citizens, Video

“I have lived just once, not twice. I know I'm going to live a lot longer, I know. According to the statistics of the witches, I have till the year 2013 or 2014. I will live 107, 108, 109, 110 years. I still have a lot to do, a lot ahead… I am a little tired sometimes, I would like to die sooner".

Hugo Küschel, August 8^th, 2017. Las Cascadas, Chile.

The Time I Have Left is a poetic documentary project about addressing end-of-life issues. Years ago, two men, Hugo Küschel and Teodoro Hofmann, lived in the village of Las Cascadas, Chile. Here, they tended their farms, raised their families, and became dear friends. Teodoro passed away in 1978, but more than thirty-five years later, I, his granddaughter, would meet Hugo for the first time. By then, Hugo was the oldest man living in Las Cascadas.

The Time I Have Left portrays the last year of Hugo’s life, the relationship with his wife, Wilma, and his battle against aging and memory loss. Due to the physical issues around growing old for Hugo, it was not possible for him to go out of his house in his last years. Spending the last few years of his life in his tiny home with his wife, Wilma, The Time I Have Left explores the point of view of a person who only had contact with the outside world peering out the windows, watching television, and looking at old photographs. This project documents how Hugo created his own world in order to keep his precious memories alive.

The Time I Have Left uses the photographic medium to understand Hugo’s perspective as he approaches the end of his life. Utilizing natural and soft window light, shadow areas, a smooth and unified color palette, and proposing contemplation as a visual experience, I seek to represent the overlapping processes of time, memory, loss, and death. Simultaneously, using these elements, I intend to place the viewer inside Hugo’s point of view, in both his psychological and physical space along with his imagination.

The Time I Have Left explores memory and time, and how these two concepts interact as they relate to mortality. At the same time, this project has become a means for me to return to my roots, and reconnect with the land where many of my early memories originated.

Hugo passed away on September 7, 2017, at the age of 96. This is his story...

“Yo he vivido una vez no más, no dos veces. Sé que voy a vivir muy lejos, lo sé. Según las estadísticas de las brujas voy a pasar el año 2013 o 2014. Voy a vivir 107, 108, 109, hasta 110 años. Todavía me queda harto por hacer, mucha tierra que mover. Me queda harto todavía por delante… estoy aburrido a veces, me gustaría morir más antes.”

Hugo Küschel, 8 de Agosto, 2017. Las Cascadas, Chile.

“El tiempo que me queda” es un proyecto documental poético que aborda temáticas relacionadas al final de la vida. Hace años, dos hombres, Hugo Küschel y Teodoro Hofmann, vivían en el pueblo de Las Cascadas en el sur de Chile. En ese lugar, criaron a sus familias, cuidaron sus granjas y se hicieron queridos amigos. Teodoro falleció en 1978, pero más de treinta y cinco años después, yo, su nieta, conocería a Hugo por primera vez. Para entonces, Hugo era el hombre más viejo que vivía en Las Cascadas.

“El tiempo que me queda” retrata el último año de vida de Hugo Küschel, su universo visual, su relación con su esposa Wilma, y su batalla contra el envejecimiento y pérdida de la memoria. Debido a las dificultades físicas que conlleva envejecer, Hugo no podía salir de su casa. La serie fotográfica explora el punto de vista de una persona que sólo tiene contacto con el mundo exterior observando a través de las ventanas, mirando televisión y viendo fotografías de su pasado. Este proyecto documenta cómo Hugo crea su propio mundo para mantener vivos sus recuerdos.

“El tiempo que me queda” utiliza el medio fotográfico para entender la perspectiva de Hugo a medida que se acerca el final de su vida. Utilizando luz natural, áreas de sombra, una paleta de colores suave y unificada, y la contemplación como una experiencia visual, mi intención es evocar emociones y sentimientos en el espectador. A la vez, representar los procesos superpuestos del tiempo, la memoria, la pérdida y la muerte. Simultáneamente, empleando estos elementos, busco guiar al espectador hacia la experiencia personal de Hugo, tanto hacia su espacio físico como psicológico.

“El tiempo que me queda” explora la memoria y el tiempo, y cómo estos dos conceptos interactúan en relación a la mortalidad. El proyecto es una conmemoración a la vida y a las memorias de Hugo y, a su vez, se ha convertido en el medio para volver a mis raíces, reconectar con mis recuerdos de infancia y con la tierra que me vio crecer.

Hugo falleció el 7 de Septiembre del 2017, a la edad de 96 años. Esta es su historia…

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