Raval by Mallorcan photographer Pep Pérez Castelló is a documentary photobook that explores two of the most pressing social realities of contemporary urban life: loneliness in old age and the gradual displacement of long-standing communities through gentrification. Set in the historic neighbourhood of Santa Catalina in Palma de Mallorca, the project focuses on the lives of seven elderly women living alone, whose personal stories reveal the profound changes reshaping the area around them.
Through a combination of portraits, domestic interiors and urban landscapes, Pérez Castelló constructs a quiet and intimate narrative centred on memory, belonging and the experience of ageing within a rapidly changing environment. The homes of the protagonists become repositories of personal histories, while the surrounding streets bear witness to a neighbourhood undergoing significant social and economic transformation.
Rather than relying on dramatic gestures, the photographer adopts a respectful and empathetic approach, allowing the voices and presence of the women to guide the work. Their stories reveal both the challenges of isolation and the resilience required to remain connected to a place that is gradually losing many of the people, businesses and relationships that once defined it.
With a restrained visual language and a deeply human perspective, Raval offers a thoughtful reflection on the social consequences of urban change. The photobook gives visibility to lives that are often overlooked, creating a moving portrait of ageing, community and the lasting impact of gentrification on everyday life.