Jenené

Jenené is a collaborative work with Andrea Lino

Jenené is a portrait of the Alto Chagres, a river located in the Chagres National Park, in the province of Panama. In this region, great environmental challenges, identity requests and economic interests overlap.

This unique territory has the particularity of bringing together in the same space the Panama Canal – a key tool of global trade –, communities closely linked to its river and one of the most important basins for water production: that of the Chagres River. There is a triangular relationship: River-Ribereños-Development. Every movement or change in one of the parts also affects the other two. Although the extractive presence is almost not perceived at first glance, this body of water is located within an intervened ecosystem. In the communities, the Chagres River is perceived as an essential element with which they live spiritually and daily. It invites us to get closer to the landscape and to reevaluate our relationship with water.

Shortly after the publication of this photobook, the greatest drought that the Chagres River has ever known began to be felt and the Canal is facing a major crisis due to lack of water that was not expected so soon.

(2019 - 2023)