From the Rural Community to the City - work in progress by Refugia Guzman Pérez from CPP

Refugia Guzmán Pérez, of the Chol Maya ethnic group, is 36 years old. She is a photographer and since 1996 has participated in the Archivo Fotográfico Indígena (AFI) training program in Chiapas, Mexico. Her photos are included in the book Camaristas, Fotógrafos Mayas de Chiapas and have been in several exhibitions in Mexico and other countries. At present she has photographs in the traveling exhibition "Mudanzas: migraciones múltiples" (Moving: Multiple Migration) created by the Museo de Mujeres Artistas Mexicanas (Museum of Mexican Women Artists).

To introduce her exhibition Refugia writes:

The importance of this project is to make a contribution to the history of Mexico, to represent our Chol culture through photographs. It is a research project about Chol families that show the richness of their culture. It will show to the world outside that the Chol culture is not left behind but rather that it has secured and achieved better aspirations. It is as important as the other Chiapas cultures and has very many riches such as its language, history, land, customs, moral values and much more.

The Archivo Fotográfico Indígena provides indigenous peoples the opportunity to speak of their experience as part of the culture of Chiapas and Mexico.

My objectives in this exhibition are to have opportunities to participate in more exhibitions and publications; to raise donations to continue the collection of photographs of the cultures of Chiapas being done by the AFI; and to find a grant to realize the work I have in progress, that speaks about my own Ch'ol culture.

Refugia Guzman Pérez

The Chiapas Photography Project

Since 1992, the Chiapas Photography Project has provided indigenous Maya peoples in Chiapas, Mexico with the opportunity to use photography for their own creative ends. As a result of CPP’s collaboration with indigenous photographers and with support from the Ford Foundation, the Archivo Fotográfico Indígena (AFI) was started in 1996. It consists of photographs and multi-lingual texts by more than 200 men and women photographers from ten ethnic groups and is located at CIESAS Sureste, an academic research center in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. In 2002 the photographers formed an independent association, Lok’tamayach Fotógrafos Mayas de Chiapas, to teach photography and promote the work of the photographers.

To obtain more information about CPP, volunteer opportunities, how to support CPP activities and the CPP endowment, or to purchase prints or books please contact Carlota Duarte [cduarte@rscj.org], Founder and Director, CPP/ AFI. Click here to read more extensive information about CCP including an exhibitions list .