Lorraine Williamson
In the wake of the devastating DANA storm that struck Valencia in October 2024, the Mud Angels photo series has drawn attention to the community’s grassroots response.
More than 80 municipalities were affected, 228 lives were lost, and widespread damage left many residents with lasting trauma and anger. As criticism of the authorities persists, local efforts—particularly from young volunteers—have emerged as a powerful counterpoint.
Photographer Raúl Belinchón documents local volunteers
Valencia-born photographer Raúl Belinchón joined recovery efforts in the town of Paiporta shortly after the floods. What struck him most were the young people. “They showed up by metro, on foot, with shovels, buckets, and gloves. They didn’t wait to be asked,” he said. Inspired, he created a portrait series titled Los ángeles de barro (“Mud Angels”) to document their efforts.
The portraits, captured at Sedajazz in the La Torre district, depict volunteers at the end of long days, visibly exhausted and caked in mud. Each image is taken against a white backdrop, turning the young people into stark symbols of community resilience.
Mud Angels earn international recognition
Los ángeles de barro has since received significant attention. It was published in El País Semanal and later won second prize in the Portrait category at the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards. The series was also exhibited in London, where audiences praised its emotional impact and documentation of civic responsibility.
Link to Florence’s 1966 flood relief effort
The name of the project is a direct reference to the “Angeli del Fango” of Florence—young volunteers who saved art and assisted in recovery after the 1966 Arno River flood. Belinchón sees a clear parallel. “Once again, youth stepped up,” he said. “The same spirit from Florence lives on in Valencia.”
Changing perceptions of Spain’s young generation
Belinchón’s motivation extended beyond artistic recognition. “They’re often dismissed as the ‘glass generation,’ but I saw strength, empathy, and leadership,” he explained. The series offers a counter-narrative to the idea that young people are disconnected from society. It presents them not as passive observers but as active agents in times of crisis.
The project, now widely recognised, stands as both a tribute and a challenge to rethink generational stereotypes. “We underestimate them too often,” Belinchón concluded. “But they’ve shown us they care—and that matters.”
Source: El Pais