The phrase “The Fish Dies By Its Mouth / El pez muere por la boca” serves as a poignant metaphor for the delicate balance of life and survival in Colombian coastal communities, where the beauty of the sea and the tradition of fishing are often overshadowed by the violence of drug trafficking and paramilitary presence. These communities, nestled along the beach lines, are home to generations of people with rich cultural heritage, celebrating their history through music, dance, and vibrant traditions. Their lives revolve around the sea, fishing for sustenance, embracing tourism, and marveling at the wonder of whale watching. This peaceful existence, however, is often threatened by the encroaching darkness of drug trafficking and the violence it brings.
Drug traffickers rely on the coast to transport their illicit cargo, utilizing speedboats to navigate the waters. Their operations are constantly under the watchful eye of the Colombian Navy, leading to dangerous encounters and desperate maneuvers. To avoid capture, traffickers often resort to dumping their cargo overboard, hoping to lighten the load and make a swift escape. This practice creates a dangerous and unexpected opportunity for local fishermen. Packages of illicit drugs, potentially worth a year’s income, wash up on the shores, tempting some with the promise of wealth, while others remain steadfast in their resistance to the allure of illicit profits.
The legacy of powerful figures like Pablo Escobar and Rodrigo Mercado, alias “Cadena,” looms over these communities, their actions shaping the daily lives and imposing their own rules. The inhabitants of Rincón del Mar remember the terror instilled by paramilitaries, their reign of fear so profound that “Cadena” ordered the destruction of an elementary school simply because it obstructed his view of the sea from his home. Escobar, too, left his mark, ordering the construction of hotels on Isla Palma and Bahía Solano, providing him with luxurious retreats during his visits.
This project, “The Fish Dies By Its Mouth / El pez muere por la boca,” seeks to shed light on the complexities of this environment. It’s a participatory and interventionist project that empowers the community to actively contribute to the creation of artistic expressions. Through a combination of portraits, landscape interventions, and object installations, the project captures the stark contrasts between the peaceful traditions of these communities and the oppressive pressures exerted by armed groups. The everyday lives of the people become intertwined with the artistic process, blurring the lines between reality and performance, ultimately becoming a powerful song for the fragile boundaries between the sea and the land, legality and prohibition.
Over a period of seven years, the artist embarked on fishing trips with his family, sharing the bond of the sea and the land with his father, brother, uncle, and cousin. Their surname, Escobar, though shared with the infamous drug lord, is linked to the resilience of these communities and their connection to the sea. The artist’s friendship with Federico Martínez and Deivis Vecino Altamar, residents of Rincón del Mar, has deepened his understanding of the challenges they face. The project encompasses a range of artistic mediums, including medium format camera, instant films, animated photographs as GIFs, objects, and drawings. The artistic process extends beyond the initial capture, with metallic plates, ink remnants, and emulsions undergoing further intervention after printing.
The project ultimately advocates for a shift in drug policy, highlighting the devastating consequences of the war on drugs. The illegal production and trade of drugs contribute to increased deaths and drive up the cost of the product. Legalization, as seen with cannabis in Uruguay, would disrupt the monopoly held by drug traffickers and corrupt officials, leading to a decrease in prices and a reduction in the risk associated with trafficking. As President Petro, in his address at the United Nations, poignantly stated: “I demand from here, from my wounded Latin America, to end the irrational war on drugs. Reducing drug consumption does not require wars, weapons; it requires all of us to build a better society: a more supportive, more affectionate society, where the intensity of life saves us from addictions and new forms of enslavement.” This project stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the Colombian coastal communities, urging a reevaluation of drug policy and a shift towards a more humane and compassionate approach to drug use and addiction.
