The U.S.-Mexican border is not a singular entity with a fixed meaning; it is a space in constant flux, holding different realities for different individuals at different times. Recent political, economic, and environmental crises have made the border feel more real than ever, revealing the fractures in its so-called fluidity. Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, often referred to as sister cities, are anything but—especially when events like the United States cutting off gas supplies to Mexico during Arctic conditions leave millions without power.
This realization marked a turning point in my work. The border I once believed in—the blurred, fluid space—does not truly exist.
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COPPER, BRASS, NICKEL SILVER, STERLING SILVER 2021
This work reflects a significant shift in how I think about and represent the border. For much of my life, the border was a passive presence—mundane and austere. I often romanticized it as a place of cultural exchange and alluring fluidity, two characteristics it does offer but only to those with the class and national privilege to navigate it seamlessly. For others, the border is a stark barrier—imposing at best, violent at worst.
In this series, I aimed to distract the viewer, much like the illusion the border itself can create. The photographs, styled with a playful "glamour shots" aesthetic reminiscent of the early 2000s, draw attention to their polished, nostalgic allure. This deliberate distraction mirrors how borders can captivate and distort, leaving the underlying realities overlooked in favor of a constructed surface.
Photographed in collaboration with Dario Lizarraga
Models: Michel Acro, Sheyla Perez, Victoria Prado
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All rights reserved. All pictures, videos, illustrations and materials on this website are copyrighted. You need written authorization in order to use elements of this site for commercial use. So reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, for other reasons than personal use, is strictly forbidden without prior written permission.