Motivation is that wind that connects us deeply and intensely with an idea or project; it drives us to develop it in an authentic and personal way. When the artist feels that excitement, that internal wind pushes them to connect with another reality as if it were their own, identifying deeply with it, transcending and connecting with others. This is precisely what I felt when I first arrived at the Casa Hogar de la Niña in Oaxaca—a gentle wind tousled my hair and soul... On February 19, 2015, with a camera in hand and a 20-kilogram backpack on my back, I arrived by chance at a foster home in need of support. Instantly, I connected in a very special way with the girls; their curiosity, vulnerability, energy, and joy in the face of adversity became bonds that united us forever. At that moment, I realized that inspiration can be born from a gust of wind, leading us to want to create like we never have before.
From that inspiration, a photographic project was born to sustainably help those girls in Oaxaca, my favorite city in Mexico, and in memory of my beloved teacher, Mary Ellen Mark, who also loved Oaxaca and helped me find the Casa Hogar.
With this project, I challenge the idea that a foster home is a sad place filled with only drama. What I find is a joyful place where the girls receive love and care from those in charge. A home where, beyond each one's circumstances, winds blow that mix creativity, laughter, learning, and adventures.
The girls are magical, powerful, special, capable of turning things into something unexpected and incredible. They accept complex situations more naturally than many adults, knowing how to turn things around.
Since the birth of this adventure, I was very interested in ensuring that this honest, innocent, vulnerable, and vibrant connection was reflected in each of their images. Because, although each person interprets art in their own way, something always reaches us from what the artist wants to share. The girls have a spontaneity with which we connect, something we sometimes lose as adults. They remind us never to forget our essence and authenticity.
From the very first moment, I felt that although they seemingly had nothing, they were giving me everything. Even today, when I recall the time I spent with them, I feel something moving inside me, and I humbly hope I was able to convey that feeling. Feel their wind. Thank you.
Many of the images in this book (others are unpublished) have been part of the artist's solo or group exhibitions in Mexico, the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom.
2024
● “I dry my hair in the wind” project selected by Head On for its international exhibition in Sydney, November 2024
● “I dry my hair in the wind” project selected by the Imagem Encontros festival in Braga, Portugal in September 2024
https://encontrosdaimagem.com/2024/
● “I dry my hair in the wind” project, winner of the silver prize for the Paris Photo Prize, August 2024
https://px3.fr/winners/px3/2024/14444/
2023
● Project published by Dodho Magazine in its 24th issue
https://www.dodho.com/shop/magazine/issue-24-print-edition-dodho-magazine/
2022
● 6 images and the book with 80 images presented at Estampa, October 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjc9xFjDzB1/