The Two Walls (2019 – 2023)
Since the beginning of humankind, we have been moving. Every time the climate was adverse, food sources became scarce, the economy collapsed, or an armed conflict ravaged the land, societies migrated. It is in our nature, but for around 100 years, we have been placing boundaries on that movement, enforcing border security, and creating instruments to control migration. This is a tale of people stubborn enough to refuse to be held in one place and to be told where to stop their journey.
This story unfolds in Mexico, which was once a sanctuary for asylum seekers, embracing migrants with open arms. However, in the last seven years, Mexico has been a co-enforcer of the United States’ anti-migration policies. The once-welcoming haven has succumbed to frequent raids, denied humanitarian visas, expedited deportations, sudden dismantling of migrant caravans, and increasing strain on asylum seekers in border cities. These measures have been implemented in response to persistent demands from various U.S. administrations, each advocating for stricter migration policies.
As the world watches, we must reflect on the profound implications of this migrant reality and hold accountable the politicians behind these policies. This project is a call to action, urging us to dismantle the barriers and systemic obstacles that confine migrants and asylum seekers within this endless ordeal. Only through collective understanding, empathy, and a renewed commitment to human rights can we carve a path toward a more compassionate and inclusive future.
Alejandro Cegarra
Alejandro Cegarra (b. 1989) is a Venezuelan photographer based in Mexico whose work explores belonging, the search for home and human rights issues in Venezuela and Mexico. Starting in 2012 at Últimas Noticias, he has since contributed to The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, and others. His awards include the Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award (2014), Getty Editorial Grant (2017), and two World Press Photo awards for long-term projects (2019, 2024).
Exhibition presented free of charge in the 1912 Building of La Pulperie.
Exhibition presented within the framework of the Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay.
For more information on the Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay, consult the zoomphotofestival.ca
