AFP | 2023-10-19

BOGOTA -- A pregnant woman, another lifeless woman lying in the mud, walkers whose faces reflect the pain and battered flags of several countries are carefully molded by Edgar Alvarez, a Colombian artist who reflects on the suffering of migration in the Americas using plasticine.

One of his miniature artworks vividly depicts a common scene at the "Loma de las Banderas," a significant point that symbolizes the start of the perilous journey for those traversing from Colombia to Panama through the treacherous Darien jungle.

Inspired by his own photographs and the emotional impact of visiting the migration corridor, Alvarez meticulously crafted the mountain and the migrants striving to surmount its challenges.

At the summit, a joyful man captures the moment in a photograph, while beside him, a visibly anxious pregnant woman reflects her distress. Nearby, a young girl clutches a teddy bear, tears streaming down her face, amidst a group of individuals on their journey laden with their burdens of suitcases.

In the backdrop, the vibrant hues of national flags from Venezuela, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, and various other Asian and Latin American nations serve as a poignant reminder of citizens fleeing their homelands, grappling with economic hardships or escaping armed conflicts.

"[The 'loma'] resembled a cemetery of shoes—nothing but mud and an expanse of shoes, nailed into the earth, boots, and flip-flops," Alvarez recollects vividly from his visit to this site in September 2022.

"It's precisely the initial spot where individuals say: 'Here I realize what the hell I've gotten myself into,'" he shares with AFP.

With his long hair, beard, and vibrant bracelets, the 49-year-old artist emphasizes that his art aims to resonate with social sensitivity and advocate for the human rights of the thousands of migrants navigating the perilous Darien jungle.

Records show a staggering 409,000 migrants made this arduous journey between January and September this year, as per official Panamanian figures.

Indifference

Alvarez named his project "I Explain it to You with Plasticine," drawing from a popular and ironically critical Colombian expression, as a criticism of indifference.

Shelves adorned with drawers brimming with plasticine figures fill his workshop in Bogota. Alongside these, you'll find small-scale cardboard replicas mapping the migration routes across the continent.

Various routes wind through Central America and the border between Mexico and the United States, marking the last leg of migrants' journey. Yet, it's often the point where their aspirations shatter. In September 2023, a staggering 200,000 migrants were apprehended by the US border patrol, setting a grim historical record.

A recent exhibition in Bogota, titled "Refugees and Migrants in America," showcased Alvarez's extensive body of work portraying experiences in various migratory corridors across Latin America. However, it's worth noting that his art wasn't always universally embraced.

"I faced significant challenges during my fine arts studies," he recalls. "Many of my teachers questioned my choice, suggesting I pursue something they deemed less 'childish'," he recounts.

Despite the skepticism, he persisted in his craft and eventually became a prominent figure on social networks, adept at explaining intricate subjects in a straightforward and accessible manner.

He is presently immersed in crafting a short film featuring his Darien-inspired creations, utilizing stop-motion techniques involving frame-by-frame animation.

"If people don't understand, well, man, you have to explain it to them in the simplest way," in this case, with plasticine.