… let us walk together. And we, in Oaxaca city, have been for the past several weeks thanks to Oaxaca born artist Alejandro Santiago.
The streets and sidewalks around Santo Domingo have been peopled with “La Ruta del Migrante – Caminemos Juntos,” his heart wrenching sculptures representing the 2,501 migrantes, men and women, who have left his pueblo of San Pedro Teococuilco almost deserted.
No two sculptures are the same; each is a tribute to the unique individuals who, most certainly with great reluctance, left the homes of their families and ancestors to make their way north in search of jobs. The pain in their contorted bodies, their faces, and their feet causes me to pause every time I pass. I’ll let the images speak for themselves and ask the questions societies all over the world need to answer.
These migrantes on the streets of Oaxaca are scheduled to disappear at the end of the month and I don’t know where they are next headed. However, two documentaries have been made about Santiago’s tribute to migrantes: Twenty Five Hundred & One by Patricia Van Ryker and 2501 Migrants: A Journey directed by Yolanda Cruz.
These are fabulous!
Very powerful. Thanks for posting.
I’ve looked at these statues numerous times, pondered them, taken my own photos of them ………. but your pictures truly capture some essence that made it all new to me again. Outstanding ~~ thank you!
Muchisimas gracias. When can we get together, again???
Amazing scultures, great work ! Yet quite sad. A ballad called “Cancion 187” by Juan Gabriel recites the plight of one such migrant. It is a fun song, laced with humor and satire, the video and song is available on U-tube;
Thanks, good song… interesting juxtaposition of music and lyrics.
Buddhists say that great love and great sadness are our great teachers. And so it is with these images.
… and we wouldn’t know one without the other. I’m going to miss them.
[…] Women’s Day. By the way, you can see in the distance in one of the photos, the Migrantes are still here. WP_SLIDESHOW_IMAGES = { load: […]
[…] did you notice the name, Alejandro Santiago Ramírez? This is the same Alejandro Santiago of the 2501 Migrantes sculptures that I’ve previously written about. Share […]
[…] For more photos from the 2501 Migrants exhibit, see my blog post The path of the migrant. […]
Do you know where the migrantes are now?
Unfortunately, I don’t. Hopefully, an exhibition of them will be organized in his memory. I will keep you posted.