Photograph by Johis Alarcón

Image Title: Virgen de la Merced

Paper Dimensions (H x W): 24 x 16 inches

Image Dimensions (H x W): 24 x 16 inches

Medium: Digital Inkjet Print

Year Created: 2018

AP 2/2

Image Description:

A woman carrying a statue of the Virgin of Mercy during a pilgrimage of Afro-Ecuadorians whose beliefs blend Catholic and African ancestral rituals. Quito, Ecuador, 2019.

This image is part of the project Cimarrona, Free Women, Free Communities.

Nowadays, daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of black women who survived slavery keep the African legacy in their spirituality. Cimarronas reinvigorates their ancestry to lead the Afro-descent continuance in Ecuador. The diaspora's ancestral rituals and their cultural migratory reconfiguration adapted to their new territories and have become a way to bring black identity reaffirmation into new generations.

Photographer's Bio:

Johis Alarcón is a freelance photographer based in Ecuador whose work focuses on social, cultural, human rights, and gender issues. She was selected for Joop Swart Masterclass World Press Photo (2020) and the 6x6 Global Talent South America (2019). Her work has been published in The New York Times, Bloomberg, Volkskrant, Courier Magazine, El País among others. She has been selected for the New York Times portfolio review (2019) and has participated in the Eddie Adams Workshop (2019). Her work has been part of Photoville and the Bronx Documentary Center's 2nd Latin American Foto Festival (2019). Johis' recognitions include the Everyday Projects Mentorship, Africamericanos Award (Ecuador), Juan Antonio Serrano photojournalism award, and Honorable Mention in the photobook competition RM. Currently, she works on assignments, teaching, and her personal projects.

www.johannaalarcon.com