Wirikuta

From "Latitudes 2025" - Centro de la Imagen Program (Mexico City Photograph Musseum) with Rene Torres Escoto. During this program, I developed a prject about Migration, in specifc the Wixarikas who are the native people located in Nayarit.

 

This is a Silver Gelatin puzzle collage with 1056 pieces chemically toned to different colors such as Sepica, Iron Blue, Red and Lumen print technic for orange to magenta tone. Every piece is attached in a base cotton paper.

Since I was 18 years I moved out of my hometown in Nayarit, not only me, but a lot of people is looking for better opportunities, just like if I were guided by the "Blue Deer" who took them over Wixarika, place full of water, food and Peyote. Migration is never easy when it comes in need of survive.

The same day you leave home, you will start missing your family, you might find some attractions in other cities, better job opportunities, nice schools, great places to live, other awesome cultures over the world, But would never be the same as your hometown.

Nayarit is one of the states in MExico which has one of the highest rates of migration, but also, I find this place with a lot of people who returned after a short or long period. This is just like the Wixarikas tales (natives from the original town before spanish conquer), three young men left their town in search of food and beverage due to a strong drought and famine. These hunters were guided by a "Blue Deer" over the desert trying to hunt him. After several tough days walking and walking they got into a wonderful place full of food, water and they discovered the "Peyote" which became part of their religion and culture due to its properties to get a spiritual connexion. This place has been named as "Wixarika" (locatged near Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosi), and actually they do a ceremony every year walking the same route as they did hundred of years ago.

I feel that many people find their own Wirikuta place, when they leave their hometown, hunting better opportunities to feed their families. In modern life those places can be all over the world. But the desire of getting back will remain forever.

Making of

I designed a Kaleidoscope for the enlarger and incorporated to make several prints. There are several triangles with mirrored pictures of main image. Including several places and outside Nayarit. These prints are treated with Chemical Toning process to get different colours. Then trimed out to get 1052 pieces.