Retrato Migrante / Migrant Portrait
Las fotografías expuestas en esta muestra fueron tomadas en México en 2016 durante la filmación de mi documental "La Patria del Migrante" . Son el resultado de una investigación sobre el fenómeno social de la migración centroamericana hacia Estados Unidos. Fueron tomadas en las ciudades de Monterrey y Saltillo.
A lo largo de México existen diferentes organizaciones que dan refugio temporal a los migrantes que están de paso, son las llamadas "Casas del Migrante", donde pueden descansar, alimentarse y protegerse por unos días mientras reponen fuerzas y continúan su viaje. fue ahí donde se tomaron los presentes retratos fotográficos y también las entrevistas para el documental audiovisual.
The photographs exhibited in this exhibition were taken in Mexico in 2016 during the filming of my documentary "The Migrant's Homeland" and were the result of an investigation into the social phenomenon of Central American migration to the United States. They were taken in the cities of Monterrey and Saltillo.Throughout Mexico there are different organizations that give temporary shelter to migrants who are passing through, they are called "Casas del Migrante", where they can rest, feed and protect themselves for a few days while they regain strength and continue their journey. it was there where the present photographic portraits were taken and also the interviews for the film documentary.
Comentario curatorial:
La desigualdad económica, la pobreza rural, los salarios significativamente más bajos y la sequía recurrente han jugado un factor importante en el siglo XX para que los centroamericanos emigren a los EE.UU. en busca de mejores oportunidades.
La mayoría de las personas que emigran de Centroamérica a los EE.UU. son de clase baja, que se enfrentan a una crisis de violencia extrema, alta tasa de homicidios, inseguridad social, falta de oportunidades y una política de reclutamiento de pandillas de unirse o morir, lo que ha hecho imposible para los jóvenes inocentes de estos países para sobrevivir a una vida normal.
Las empresas locales de estos países se enfrentan a la amenaza constante de la extorsión, mientras que las políticas corruptas e inadecuadas no consiguen protegerlas.
La intrigante serie de retratos de Rodrigo de algunos de los migrantes de Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala y Nicaragua es un conmovedor recordatorio de una cruda realidad entre la gente de estas naciones. Al observar a cada uno de los personajes, hay una evidencia visible de lucha y desesperación, un sentimiento de incertidumbre, y sin embargo una extraña esperanza desconocida en esos ojos brillantes, independientemente del género y la edad.
A través de la expresividad y a la vez la sencillez del tratamiento de cada retrato, que representa un carácter único de cada emigrante con la sensibilidad de un narrador de historias de gran credibilidad, Rodrigo crea con su objetivo esa curiosidad extrema por el trasfondo cultural, social y económico de cada personaje. Como espectador, uno se sentiría obligado a querer interactuar y entender más acerca de estos migrantes, donde todos y cada uno de los rostros parecen estar tratando de llegar al espectador y buscando su compasión.
Lo que el futuro depara a estas personas es un sueño esperanzador de realización para todos los que aparecen en estas imágenes.
@Sandeep Biswas
Curador
Curatorial Comment:
Economic inequality, rural poverty, significantly lower wages and recurring drought have played a major factor in the 20th century for the Central Americans to migrate to the USA for better opportunities.Most people who migrate from Central America into the USA, are from lower class background, dealing with a crisis of extreme violence, high homicidal rate, social insecurity, lack of opportunity and a join or die gang recruitment policy , which has made it impossible for the innocent youth of these countries to survive a normal life.Local Businesses in these countries face constant threat of extortion while the corrupt and inadequate policies fail to protect them.
Rodrigo’s intriguing series of portraits of a few of the migrants of Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua is a poignant reminder of a stark reality between the people of these nations. Looking at each character, there is a visible evidence of struggle and despair, a feeling of uncertainty, yet an uncanny unknown hope in those glimmering eyes, regardless of gender and age.Through the expressiveness yet simplicity of treatment with each portrait which represents a unique character of every migrant with the sensitivity of a highly credible story teller, Rodrigo through his lens creates that extreme curiosity about each character’s cultural, social and economic background. As a viewer, one would feel compelled to want to interact and understand more about these migrants, where each and every staring face seems to be trying to reach out to the viewer and searching for their compassion.What the future beholds for these people is a hopeful dream of fulfilment for everyone in these images.
Rodrigo’s intriguing series of portraits of a few of the migrants of Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua is a poignant reminder of a stark reality between the people of these nations. Looking at each character, there is a visible evidence of struggle and despair, a feeling of uncertainty, yet an uncanny unknown hope in those glimmering eyes, regardless of gender and age.Through the expressiveness yet simplicity of treatment with each portrait which represents a unique character of every migrant with the sensitivity of a highly credible story teller, Rodrigo through his lens creates that extreme curiosity about each character’s cultural, social and economic background. As a viewer, one would feel compelled to want to interact and understand more about these migrants, where each and every staring face seems to be trying to reach out to the viewer and searching for their compassion.What the future beholds for these people is a hopeful dream of fulfilment for everyone in these images.
@Sandeep Biswas
Curator
Exhibition currently posted on the VASA PROJECT website as of January 2022.