Cristina de Middel: Journey to the Center
Cristina de Middel creates images that provoke deep thought in the viewer. Her photographic project “Journey to the Center,” which explores the phenomena surrounding the migration route through Mexico, draws inspiration from the atmosphere and symbolism of Jules Verne’s iconic novel *Journey to the Center of the Earth*.
By blending straightforward documentary photography with staged images and archival materials, she builds a rich, multi-layered narrative.
The migration route through Central America is depicted as a heroic and bold expedition. Mexico, the backdrop for this journey, is shown in all its captivating and extreme complexity.
With an exhibition at the 2024 Rencontres d’Arles and the image gracing the official poster of Arles 2024:
Cristina de Middel has spent years traveling with migrants on the infamous train known as “La Bestia,” conducting interviews with sicarios (hitmen), engaging in lengthy conversations with coyotes (human smugglers) and police officers. By merging her own photographs with objects recovered from the desert and archival footage, she crafts a layered and intricate narrative.
The journey begins in Tapachula, at Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala, and concludes in Felicity, a small Californian town recognized as the “Center of the World.” This epic odyssey is interspersed with stories from three migrants who recount their harrowing experiences, alongside commentary from the artist. An epilogue by Mexican journalist Pedro Anza sheds light on the broader issues and the human toll of the United States’ relentless focus on border control.
About the Author
Cristina De Middel, born in Spain in 1975, currently divides her time between Mexico and Brazil. She joined Magnum Photos in 2017, became an associate member in 2019, and by 2022, she achieved full membership and was elected as Magnum’s new president, succeeding Olivia Arthur.
De Middel explores the complex relationship between photography and truth. By blending documentary approaches with conceptual techniques, she challenges conventional narratives, using reconstructions and archetypes to provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding of her subjects. She operates from the perspective that mass media oversimplifies our perception of the world, prompting her to reimagine overused visual motifs and question the insertion of opinion in place of objective facts.
Her shift toward a more unconventional approach followed a decade-long career as a photojournalist. Moving beyond traditional documentary photography, she created the acclaimed series *The Afronauts* (2012), which re-enacted the story of Zambia’s failed space program in the 1960s. This series challenged stereotypical portrayals of the African continent, offering an alternative perspective through staged images of an overlooked narrative.
In her project *Gentlemen’s Club*, which began in Rio de Janeiro in 2015 and expanded globally (excluding Australasia), De Middel turned her lens toward the lesser-documented side of prostitution: the male clients. Her intimate portraits defy conventional paradigms, offering fresh insights and perspectives. Alongside her renowned personal projects, De Middel has also completed commissions for prestigious clients such as the Nobel Peace Foundation, Christian Dior, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and FC Barcelona.
