The Zapotec Corn Fields:

A Visual Narrative of the Land of the South

The land and agricultural fields in Mexico offer a unique perspective from which to observe social, political, economic and cultural variables. The connection of rural communities to their land, may manifest through inequalities and challenging conditions for achieving wellbeing.

However, the strength that comes from this type of work extends beyond physical strength to encompass values of hard work, persistence and a profound consciousness of the influence of factors on ones harvest as well as capacities to develop strategies to mitigate risks. Family participation is also crucial to this type of work, especially during difficult periods such as irrigation. Children learn to connect with the earth on days when they do not have class; women put aside their responsibilities of developing artisanal tortillas and tortilla chips to help with the requirements of field work. Zapotec individuals consider this familial interaction to be essential for building the values that one can only get through hard work, while it should also be recognized that children are not made to carry out challenging tasks until they are of an appropriate age.

Through the project "The Zapotec Corn Fields: A Visual Narrative on the Land of the South" Luis Villalobos seeks to expose the vulnerability of the Zapotec farmer while also giving value to the dignity that comes with manual labor and the social impact this has on their community. Considering the conditions of vulnerability,and internal conflicts that may arise amongst rural populations, Luis poses the question of how can they live a dignified life?

A day in the Life of Chico-Rito