The Knock Knock Collection
For the last seven years, I have been shooting knock-knocks around Spain. The small collection I am presenting here is a resume of the past three years of my work.
The knock-knock is common in Spanish houses, usually forged in iron. Their forms are influenced by the different Mediterranean cultures. In some cases, it denotes family status by using lions or ornamented Greco-roman patterns.
In other cases, the arabesque style takes protagonism, since Spain was under Arabic control during the middle age. Hence, Arabic patterns mix with local cultures to create unique forms that can only be seen in certain remote areas in Spain.
Curiously, on the Aragonese Pyrenees, the knock-knock resembles the male genitalia. The old pagan beliefs from the area received the influence of Greek culture. Priapo, the god of fertility, was the inspiration to cast male-genitalia and hang it on the door. The family expected to receive Priapo's blessing for many different reasons, from bountiful harvests to healthy kids.
Marc del Piro, Spain, Sabadell
