Copyright euroweeklynews
From the streets of Wallsend to the sun-drenched Costa Blanca, Mike Steel’s lifelong journey has been a lens-focused adventure bridging cultures, continents, and generations. Photographer, festival founder, Steel, together with his partner Mili Sánchez, has transformed Javea and Denia into a vibrant hub for photography enthusiasts, hosting exhibitions that rival the prestige of New York’s MoMA and London’s Tate – all while celebrating the overlooked talents who deserve the spotlight. Born in 1965 in Wallsend, near Newcastle – birthplace of Sting and other renowned English figures – Mike Steel’s story is one of quiet adventure and artistic passion. When one of his brothers faced health problems, his parents decided to move to Spain in 1969. From then on, Mike attended school in Spain, beginning in preschool. His parents explored the Catalan coast, spending some time in towns such as Sitges, but nothing quite felt right until they reached Javea, Alicante – where Mike still lives today. “My brother and I were the only English pupils at school” It was during the dictatorship. There were still six years left before Franco’s death and three more before democracy. “We were practically the only British family in the area. My brother and I were the only English pupils at school – the only Protestants – so we were exempt from religion classes.”, he said to Euro Weekly News. At 18, Mike returned to England. “I wanted to get to know my own country,” he says with a laugh. “And I discovered it was very cold!” He lived in London, where he began his career in photography, but soon returned to Spain. After years of travelling, he settled in Madrid. “There I met Mili (Sánchez), my partner for many years – we recently got married,” he smiles. Together, they founded Ojos Rojos magazine, dedicated to Spanish and Latin American photography. “In Spain, photographers are often unknown. Everyone knows who Cartier-Bresson is, but few have heard of Julián Zuazo,” Mike explained. Back to the Costa Blanca Later, the couple moved back to the Costa Blanca to be closer to Mike’s parents. “We stayed in Javea, and since working as photographers here isn’t easy, we decided to channel our passion into creating a festival – something like what you’d find in London or Madrid,” he says. Thus was born the Ojos Rojos Festival in 2019, which takes place in Javea and Denia, featuring exhibitions usually found only in prestigious museums and galleries such as New York’s MoMA or London’s Tate. Classic and contemporary photography in Denia and Javea This year’s programme includes renowned photographer Gloria Irazabal, a key figure in contemporary photography. Also featured are classic works by Palmira Puig and Marcel Giró at the Museo Soler Blasco, located just steps from PFZ Gallery – an elegant space reminiscent of New York galleries, owned by photographer Julián Zuazo, who presents a remarkable collection including portraits of a NASA astronaut. Another highlight is Memorias Sonámbulas at Casa del Cable, a retrospective of the long and distinguished career of photographer Luis Asín. Meanwhile, Luisa Dorr, a National Geographic contributor, brings her captivating street photography focusing on falleras – but with a twist: her subjects are foreigners, Africans, and Latin Americans who have become part of the vibrant world of Valencia’s traditional festivals. Through Ojos Rojos, Mike Steel and Mili Sánchez continues to bridge cultures and continents – bringing together the best of Spain, Latin America, and their English and Spanish roots in a shared passion for photography. Multiple exhibitions across Denia and Javea In Denia, exhibitions run from November 7 to November 30, including Gloria Oyarzabal at Centre d’Art L’Estació, Luisa Dörr at Plaza del Consell, Marcos Avilés at Mercat Municipal, and Jose Miguel Cerezo at Casa de Cultura. Together, these venues offer a unique chance to explore both contemporary and classic photography in the heart of the Costa Blanca.
