Neither heroes nor villains - nervios y miedo antes de salir al ruedo
nervios y miedo antes de salir al ruedo
Neither heroes nor villains - The "estoque" is the name given to the sword used to kill the bull. A good...
The "estoque" is the name given to the sword used to kill the bull. A good performance requires the sword to enter up to the hilt on the first attempt. This requires the full weight of the bullfighter to fall on the animal at the same time that the bull charges the bullfighter, which creates one of the most dangerous situations in the performance.
Neither heroes nor villains - jose garrido. When the bullfighter fails in the "estocada" (the sword...
jose garrido. When the bullfighter fails in the "estocada" (the sword does not enter correctly), a very unpleasant sensation is produced that is accompanied by "pitidos" (disapproving whistles and boos) from the spectators.



Neither heroes nor villains - tardes de Toros. Oto
tardes de Toros. Oto
Neither heroes nor villains - Olivenza, Toros, Perera
Olivenza, Toros, Perera
Neither heroes nor villains - Toros
Toros
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains -
Neither heroes nor villains
nervios y miedo antes de salir al ruedo
Neither heroes nor villains
The "estoque" is the name given to the sword used to kill the bull. A good performance requires the sword to enter up to the hilt on the first attempt. This requires the full weight of the bullfighter to fall on the animal at the same time that the bull charges the bullfighter, which creates one of the most dangerous situations in the performance.
Neither heroes nor villains
jose garrido. When the bullfighter fails in the "estocada" (the sword does not enter correctly), a very unpleasant sensation is produced that is accompanied by "pitidos" (disapproving whistles and boos) from the spectators.



Neither heroes nor villains
tardes de Toros. Oto
Neither heroes nor villains
Olivenza, Toros, Perera
Neither heroes nor villains
Toros
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Talavante. Bullfighter concentrate before to go to ring. 
Neither heroes nor villains
Bullfighter uses to pray in front of Jesus Christ imagen before bullfight to get protection form die
Neither heroes nor villains
Morante de la puebla with he "montera" is the traditional hat worn by bullfighters. It has been used since the 19th century, replacing the bicornio (two horns) of bailiffs and other officials authorized to execute killings.
The bullfighters carry inside it an image of a Christ or a Virgin Mary for which they have a special devotion, they usually worship it just before jumping into the ring. 
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains
Neither heroes nor villains

Neither heroes nor villains


Bullfighters: neither heroes nor villains.

The hard summer sunlight in Spain at the hottest hour makes the matador’s outfit glitter, highlighting the textures and darkening the shadows until they become black holes. Saturated and pure colors mix with sharp and dry odors to create the score on which a complex and old ritual that I expect to capture with the utmost detail working at a slow pace unlike I usually do.
Getting away from the headlines to get in touch with what is both permanent and eternal: the man in the matador’s outfit is a naked one who faces the primeval emotions that have overwhelmed human beings from all cultures and civilizations from the dawn of time: fear, death, honor, shame, glory... taboos that are shown in such an evident and close way that irritate the senses, triggering the most extreme reactions.

Times are changing in Spain: heroes become villains, bulls become martyrs of a growing animalist movement that fights against some of the most powerful traditions that, currently, and against all odds, are cornered and endangered. Those who until very recently proclaimed themselves owners of this country are trapped in the bullrings where they continue to celebrate their “fiesta nacional”, with one eye set on the bullring and the other on the streets, fearful of a country where their discourse doesn’t find much room any longer.

They grew up like heroic members of a special caste in Spanish society. Icons of value and honor, keepers of tradition, ambassadors of a country’s culture that turns its back on them as the first generation of Spaniards born within the European Union shows no appreciation for this kind of display.

Prohibitionist positions are working their way up in Parliament while some town councils already decided to forbid or withdraw support to bullfighting. The controversy is on the streets, where pro-bullfighting are in a very hard position as they hold on to customs and ceremonies that are leading them to their own destruction.

Entering a bullring today is like travelling back in time to a world where life is not the supreme value; where fear, blood and death are the stage companions of actors for whom their character is a way of life.

For this work will try to collect images with a high technical and human quality that manage to capture the visual riches and cultural memory of such a unique and special world. A work capturing tradition without fanaticism, pain without judgment, allowing viewers to enjoy beauty and be appalled by death in one of the most controversial “art expressions” existing around the world. A world that is about to disappear and that has a lot to show us about our darkest side and how we face it




Public Project
Neither heroes nor villains
Copyright Oto Marabel 2025
Date of Work Jan 2017 - Ongoing
Updated Jun 2025
Topics Abuse, Animals, Conceptual, Editorial, Photojournalism, Sports, traditions, Violence
LOVE
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