Mapping Skin Deep  2014

Cartografiando la Piel (Mapping Skin Deep) is an interactive audiovisual installation composed of eight portraits that chronicle the experiences of refugees and undocumented migrants from various countries through photography and personal testimonies. This work highlights how, despite the hardships of forced displacement, these individuals have transformed their journeys into powerful narratives of resilience, courage, and growth—stories deserving of admiration and respect.

With this series, I aim to challenge prevailing stereotypes about migration while offering migrants themselves a dignified representation in the public sphere, breaking away from the victimizing portrayals often seen in the media.

"Scars are maps on my skin, guiding my life."

- Cultura Profética -

Each portrait consists of three elements: a photograph, a translucent map, and a speaker. In the image, I digitally marked participants with symbolic scars, proportional to the lasting impact of their journey. When the map is placed over the scar, its shape and length reveal the route taken from their homeland to their current location. The depth of the scar reflects the emotional and physical toll of their migration, while its level of healing represents the time that has passed since their displacement.

As viewers engage with the installation, they activate the voices of those portrayed, listening to their firsthand testimonies. According to UNHCR, by the end of 2016, there were 65.6 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Migration is a shared global reality—a tapestry woven with memory, resilience, pain, and hope.

Through this installation, I seek to reframe the narrative surrounding migration, fostering empathy and understanding.