Note from the co-founders of the Humanitas360 Institute on the passing of photographer Sebastião Salgado
On behalf of our family, the team at the Humanitas360 Institute and the PDR Philanthropic Fund, we would like to express our profound sorrow at the passing of Sebastião Salgado, one of the most important documentary photographers of our time. His departure represents not only the loss of an exceptional image professional, but of a great artist who knew how to transform vision into an instrument of denunciation and hope.
Through his lens, always in black and white, Sebastião Salgado built a visual vocabulary for active citizenship, portraying with acuity, precision, and sensitivity the human and natural dramas that often remain in the shadows of official discourse. Each of his photographs served as an invitation for viewers around the world to confront systemic injustices and mobilize in defense of human dignity and environmental preservation.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Lélia Wanick Salgado, Sebastião’s tireless partner and co-author of many of his most significant achievements – including the creation of the Instituto Terra, in 1998. Her dedication, intelligence, and sensitivity were fundamental in enabling Sebastião’s work to achieve the transformative dimension we know. Through Lélia, we extend a fraternal embrace to the entire family, friends, and admirers of the photographer, recognizing that the pain of this loss is shared by all those who believe in the power of art as a tool for social awareness.
We take great pride in Sebastião Salgado’s support of our Potable Water Coalition for Indigenous Peoples, which we created together with various companies and personalities to raise funds and develop innovative solutions that guarantee clean water supply to the greatest possible number of indigenous villages in the country, particularly in the Legal Amazon. His engagement in this cause reflected his deep understanding that the struggle for human rights requires concrete action and effective solidarity.
We will continue this work honoring his memory and example.
Patrícia and Ricardo Villela Marino