Only Have Faith

Adél Koleszár’s work “Only Have Faith” explores the violence that has ravaged Mexico over the past two decades, placing it within the broader context of the role photography plays in representing and perpetuating terror. The so-called “war on drugs,” launched in 2006 and funded by the United States, destabilized communities in order to control resources, migration, and territories, leaving the population in a vulnerable situation.

The project chronicles a year of excavations at the Colinas de Santa Fe mass grave in the state of Veracruz, a site that emerged as a result of the overwhelming number of enforced disappearances in the country and is considered one of the largest clandestine graves discovered in Latin America’s recent history. The series tells the story of the mothers of the Colectivo Solecito de Veracruz, a group of volunteers who led the search and continue to search for their loved ones who have disappeared in various locations. Their perseverance embodies both resistance and grief, revealing the human dimension of systemic violence and the emotional suffering it leaves in its wake.

Mainstream media often sensationalizes violence for profit, turning photojournalism into a competitive industry and commodifying tragedy. Adél’s work stands out for its focus on landscapes, resilient people, and stylistic evolution. She juxtaposes abandoned infrastructure with the generosity of nature, capturing the human cost through testimonies rather than graphic images.

Adél’s immersion in Mexican culture transformed her approach, allowing her to delve deeper into the complexities of violence and rethink her perspective. Created in Veracruz, her project is a moving reflection on the far-reaching effects of systemic exploitation within the framework of capitalism.