Rhizophora

Rhizophora explores the dreams and imagination of a young boy, Romeo, who longs for the sea in a mountainous Zapotec village where swimming is almost unheard of. His story reflects the power of childhood dreams and imagination.

Belonging is not a fixed state; it ebbs and flows like the tides. Growing up in a Zapotec community nestled in the mountains of Oaxaca, the sea was both a dream and a mystery. Rhizophora explores this tension through the story of Romeo, a boy who longed to become a sailor despite never leaving his landlocked village. Through a blend of portraiture, landscapes, and dreamlike imagery, this project reflects on the power of imagination, the rituals that connect us to our dreams, and the resilience of childhood hopes in environments where opportunities are scarce.

When Romeo was 10 years old, he dreamed of becoming a sailor, a dream that seemed unreachable in a mountain village where few people could swim. Every Good Friday, the community would feast on fish, and Romeo would sit at the table, carefully removing the fish’s eyes before eating them. When his mother asked why, he replied, "So that one day, I can see beneath the sea."

This is a story my mother told me recently, when I asked about the man in the boat from our family photo album. He looked so different from the other men in Teotitlán—one who ventured to the sea and never returned until he died. The town says he passed without anyone knowing why, but me now.

Rhizophora recreates the story of Romeo, imagining him throughout the years, dreaming by the sea, living near it, and yearning for it. This work delves into the power of dreams, the rituals we create to reach the places we desire, and the blurred line between imagination and reality. It also touches on the dreams of childhood and the challenges of achieving them in environments where access to education is limited.

This project draws inspiration from personal family stories, unraveling the mystery of Romeo and the generational impact of his impossible dream. Through intimate portraits, landscapes, and symbolic imagery, Rhizophora reflects on the power of dreams and the rituals we create to make them come true. The imagery contrasts Romeo’s imagined sea with the mountainous landscapes of his village, portraying the distance between his reality and his dreams.

Central to this work is the exploration of how children, especially in isolated communities, use imagination as a form of resilience and coping with limited opportunities. Rhizophora connects the viewer to the innocence of youth, the strength of imagination, and the cultural richness of Oaxaca, all framed by the backdrop of an impossible dream.