Chavalxs es
un proyecto colaborativo de base comunitaria que se enfoca en crear espacios de
reflexión a través de la fotografía para confrontar narrativas sobre jóvenes de
zonas rurales cercanas a la frontera entre México y Estados Unidos que han sido
afectados por violencia relacionada el narcotráfico y disputas territoriales.
La intención es integrar a la comunidad y su visión en el proceso de producción
artística, compartir conocimientos facilitando herramientas creativas, discutir
identidad, realidad social y representación, así como contribuir a los
esfuerzos existentes para fortalecer la comunidad y su memoria. También
incorporé estrategias más recíprocas para cuestionar las prácticas
extractivistas fotográficas por medio de las cuales estas realidades suelen ser
representadas. Intercambie polaroids para incorporar simbólicamente la
participación de los jóvenes a quienes no podría llegar través de los talleres
que ofrecí, pero también porque la mayoría de las personas fotografiadas en el
mundo nunca llegan a sostener o ver las imágenes que de ellos se producen y circulan.
Finalmente, pegamos fotografías a largo de las carreteras que unen los poblados,
en los espacios comunitarios de cada localidad y dentro una importante galería
en Ciudad Juárez para compartir los resultados de nuestro trabajo colectivo.
Chavalxs is a collaborative community-based project which focuses on creating spaces of reflection through photography to confront narratives about young people from rural areas near the border between Mexico and the U.S. that have been affected by drug trafficking and territory disputes related violence. The intention is to integrate the community and their vision into the process of artistic production, share knowledge by facilitating creative tools, discuss identity, social reality, and representation, as well as contribute to existing efforts to strengthen the community and its collective memory. I also incorporated more reciprocal strategies to question the photographic extractivists practices the realities of these places are usually represented through. I exchanged polaroids to symbolically incorporate the participation of the kids I knew I could not reach through the workshops I offered, but also because most people photographed in the world never get to hold or see the images that are produced and reproduced of them. Finally, we made installations along the roads, in each town's community spaces and within a major gallery in Ciudad Juarez to share the results of our collective work.
Chavalxs is a collaborative community-based project which focuses on creating spaces of reflection through photography to confront narratives about young people from rural areas near the border between Mexico and the U.S. that have been affected by drug trafficking and territory disputes related violence. The intention is to integrate the community and their vision into the process of artistic production, share knowledge by facilitating creative tools, discuss identity, social reality, and representation, as well as contribute to existing efforts to strengthen the community and its collective memory. I also incorporated more reciprocal strategies to question the photographic extractivists practices the realities of these places are usually represented through. I exchanged polaroids to symbolically incorporate the participation of the kids I knew I could not reach through the workshops I offered, but also because most people photographed in the world never get to hold or see the images that are produced and reproduced of them. Finally, we made installations along the roads, in each town's community spaces and within a major gallery in Ciudad Juarez to share the results of our collective work.