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Quiet Samir: poetic photography, portraits and hiphoesía in Barcelona

Photographer, poet and MC. Samir Gallego, born in Cali (Colombia) and based in Barcelona, photographs what he sees on the streets, writes over hip hop instrumentals and brings it all together under one name: hiphoesía. He also takes portrait commissions.

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First photo exhibition in Barcelona – at Ferlandina 26

On 14 December 2025 Quiet Samir presented «Distintas soledades» (Different solitudes) at Ferlandina 26 – his first photo exhibition in Barcelona, with live poetic hip hop and free entry. At the Pop Up Artístico on 28 March 2026 his photographs were back in our space, alongside those of Tobías Videla Nebbia. On 15 March 2026 his Katharsis Festival hosted «Una Fiesta Poética» at Ferlandina 26, with ten poets, music and jazz on vinyl – to a full house.

Portrait commissions and photo sessions

Quiet Samir is happy to take commissions: portraits, street sessions around Barcelona and photography experiences. He has five years of professional experience in portraiture, a diploma in audiovisual production and has worked as an assistant in photographic archive conservation.

His sessions can be booked on Airbnb («Fotografía poética por Samir»): a short poetic portrait, a personalised street session or a longer photography experience with edited photos. For other projects, message him on Instagram.

Book a photo session ↗Quiet Samir on Instagram ↗

What is hiphoesía?

Hiphoesía – hip hop plus poesía – is Samir's word for what he does: poetry spoken over hip hop beats, somewhere between spoken word, slam and alternative hip hop. His texts are about the city, winter, solitude and the beautiful things he comes across on his walks.

Add to that his poetic photography, often on film and in black and white: images that work like verses. For him, music, words and images form a single body of work.

What is hiphoesía? – Quiet Samir — Image: @quiet_samir

HIPHOESÍA, the 7" vinyl

His latest project brings music and photography together in a limited edition of 100 copies: a 7" vinyl with a booklet containing the lyrics, photographs and extras. Music production is by car3sucio; the portraits of Samir in the project are by his friend, photographer Joan Ramos.

In the artist's own words, making the vinyl was part of the work itself: from sound to image, from image to paper, from paper to vinyl.

Limited edition of 100 copies: 7" vinyl + booklet with lyrics and photographs
Listening session: 6 November 2026, 7 pm, at Discos Redondos 33 – free entry, vinyl available there
Reservations via the link on his Instagram profile

Reserve the vinyl ↗

HIPHOESÍA, the 7" vinyl – Quiet Samir — Image: @quiet_samir

From Cali to Barcelona

Samir discovered hip hop at 16 in his neighbourhood in Cali. He studied philosophy at Universidad del Valle and photography at the Instituto Popular de Cultura. As Emci Rimas he formed the group Odio en tus Bafles in 2007 and in 2011 released the album «Esencia del Alma», inspired by Fernando Pessoa. In 2020 he spent time in Montpellier focusing on photography.

Today he lives in Barcelona and goes by Quiet Samir. «En el invierno», one of his first songs under that name, was begun on 28 December 2024 – inspired by a hard winter and by the beauty he sees walking through the city. «Floating Birds» is written over «Oceanside» by Californian producer Nitsua.

Katharsis Festival

Samir is the creator and founder of Katharsis Festival, which he has run since 2014 and which describes itself as the multicultural festival of poetic photography, poetry and hiphoesía. The 9th edition takes place on 24 October 2026 in Santiago de Compostela, with an open call for poets.

Quiet Samir online

FAQ

Who is Quiet Samir?

Samir Gallego, a photographer, poet and MC born in Cali (Colombia) and based in Barcelona, formerly known as Emci Rimas. He combines poetry, hip hop and poetic photography under the name hiphoesía and founded Katharsis Festival.

Does Quiet Samir take portrait commissions in Barcelona?

Yes. He takes commissions for portraits and photo sessions; book on Airbnb («Fotografía poética por Samir») or message him on Instagram at @quiet_samir.

Where can I buy the HIPHOESÍA vinyl?

Reserve it via the link on his Instagram profile. It is also available at the listening session on 6 November 2026 at Discos Redondos 33. There are only 100 copies.

Would you like a portrait, to invite Quiet Samir to a reading or to propose a project? Get in touch with him directly.