Photographic exhibition reveals the country's great diversity and social complexity

▲ On the beach , by Luis Fernando Hernández Villanueva Photo courtesy of Fomento Cultural Banamex

▲ Smiles , by Antonio Real Mora. Photo courtesy of Fomento Cultural Banamex

▲ 1950?, by Rodrigo Ortega Lara Photo courtesy of Fomento Cultural Banamex

Fabiola Palapa Quijas

La Jornada Newspaper, Thursday, June 19, 2025, p. 5

The image of three children smiling while playing tug-of-war, included in the exhibition Mexico of Mexicans III , is a testament to children's ability to find happiness in the simplest things.

Antonio Real Mora, in his photograph "Smiles ," conveys the happiness and freedom of childhood. This warm and vibrant image received an honorable mention in the Children of Mexico category of the photography contest launched in 2024 by Fomento Cultural Banamex, which recognizes the vision of those who live in and photograph the country.

The jury selected 44 images from nearly 20,000, which were recognized with awards, honorable mentions, and special recognitions as part of the celebration of the 140th anniversary of the National Bank of Mexico. The snapshots were brought together in the exhibition presented at the Banamex Cultural Palace – Iturbide Palace.

Among those that portray contemporary Mexico, its people, customs, culture, as well as its geographical and environmental diversity, stands out Makwipa en el equinoccio , by Flor Guadalupe Núñez Castañeda, who won the BNM 140 Years Award.

This is an image of the sacred site Makwipa, located on Cerro del Padre, next to the urban area of ​​the Zacatecas capital, a mandatory stop for the Wixárika people on the Wirikuta route from Nayarit and Jalisco on their pilgrimage to San Luis Potosí.

The photographer captured a romantic moment between a couple and several Army personnel with their weapons in the background, a reflection of the situation in that part of the country.

In the category of Best Northern Regional Photography, the award was given to María Gabriela Rocha Gómez's image, which is part of the series Women of Salt, Sand and Sea , captured in Punta Chueca, Sonora.

The work depicts women from different generations of the Comcáac community, who proudly wear their clothing, ornaments, and makeup, which they use to decorate themselves and evoke the elements and colors that represent their worldview.

▲ Image from the series Women of Salt, Sand, and Sea , by María Gabriela Rocha Gómez. Photo courtesy of Fomento Cultural Banamex

Another image that stands out in the exhibition belongs to Marcel Rius Barón, who received recognition for Best Southern Regional Photography for Los diablos pintos , which represents the duality of good and evil in the carnival celebrated in Santa Catarina Minas, Oaxaca.

Also recognized for their work were photographers Alfred José Louis Federico Jacob Vilalta, Héctor Corral Ruiz, Pamela Berlanga Hinojosa, Claudia Maldonado Acosta, Sergio Limón Leyceguí, Rodrigo Ortega Lara, Juan Carlos Reyes García, Brian Mena Laureano, Tania Esponda Aja, Luis Fernando Hernández Villanueva and Raquel Reynoso Escalante.

The exhibition "Mexico of Mexicans III" is part of a larger project that seeks to create a photographic collection that documents the unique view Mexicans have of their country and themselves. Much of this archive is presented in various exhibitions nationwide and has been incorporated into a commemorative book available at www.fomentoculturalbanamex.org.

Manuel Romo, CEO of Banamex, emphasized that the contest and the book aim to reflect the vast diversity and complexity of Mexican society in the 21st century.

Mexico of the Mexicans III will remain until September 21 at the Iturbide Palace (Francisco I. Madero 17, Historic Center, Mexico City).

In Monterrey, it will be shown at the Museum of Mexican History; in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, it will be on display at the Casa del Mayorazgo de la Canal until August 3. It will be on display at the Palacio del Conde del Valle de Súchil in Durango from June 24 to July 27, and at the Museo Casa Montejo in Mérida from June 26.