Seekers
2023 — 2024
For the last two years, I have been working with migrant students from various countries. Hearing their stories has opened my heart. My students are five-year-old kids who have not only crossed the Darién Gap with their families but also several borders. Their strength is so powerful that I am always surprised when they open their hearts and share their journeys. For me, my students are superheroes and superheroines. New York City has opened its doors to thousands of families and I am lucky to have the opportunity to be working with them. The immigration crisis sometimes distorts why people migrate and creates a fictional image of who are coming. That is the reason that I decided to shoot portraits of my students. These are the faces that we do not see: children working hard to learn a new language, to get accustomed to the new environment where their families have chosen to find new opportunities, just as other groups have done in the past. These portraits show hope and offer a view of their dreams. As someone who knows how hard it is to immigrate, I am in awe of the power of these children. The concept of a humanitarian migrant crisis needs to be accepted and people need to start planning ahead to find ways to help others in need.
