Synopses & Reviews
Chiapas: The End of Silence is Antonio Turok's striking visual diary of his experiences in this southern Mexican state, which is in many ways a cultural crossroads for the Americas. The region is marked by centuries of conflict between modern society and the indigenous communities--the most recent of which was the uprising in 1994 by the Zapatista Army. With this struggle, which continues today in search of a peaceful settlement, the Maya Indians ended their centuries-old silence, and captured the imaginations of leftist activists around the world.
While they cannot help but reflect the politics of the region, Turok's photographs transcend mere reportage, echoing the rich history of Chiapas. His portraits of the many different lives and rituals--from religious festivals to country funerals, from high society to homelessness--offer a multifaceted view of a social environment so complex as to resemble a hall of mirrors.
There are sixty-four black-and-white images in this book, along with personal commentary by Turok and an introduction by Francisco Álvarez Quiñones, Chiapaneco poet and playwright. Detailed captions in English and Spanish appear at the back of the book.
Synopsis
Prizewinning photographer Turok presents a striking visual diary of his experiences in this southern Mexican state, which is in many ways a cultural crossroads for the Americas. While they cannot help but reflect the politics of the region, the photographs transcend mere reportage, echoing the rich history of Chiapas. His portraits of the many different lives and rituals from barroom fiestas to country funerals, and from high society to homelessness, offer a multifaceted view of a complex social environment.
About the Author
Antonio Turok was born and raised in Mexico City. He has photographed extensively throughout Central America and southern Mexico for the past two decades, and has published a book of photographs on Nicaragua. Turok is a winner of the 1994 Mother Jones International Documentary Photography Award and recipient of grants from the Guggenheim Foundation and US/MEXICO Fund for Culture for his work in Chiapas, where he lives today.
Francisco Álvarez Quiñones is a poet, playwright, actor, storyteller, and filmmaker based in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. In collaboration with a nonprofit theater organization whose actors and writers are from Tzeltal and Tzotzil, Maya communities in the highlands of Chiapas, he has written an award-winning series of plays rooted in Maya culture. Quiñones is working on a novel, Bolom, Jaguar Trozista.