Meet the Mexican photographer running for the 42nd Annual “W. Eugene Smith ” in the US

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Cristopher Rogel Blanquet is a Mexican photographer who is in the running to win the “W. Eugene Smith 2021” Commemorative Scholarship in New York, with his project “Beautiful Poison”.

The artist appears on the list of finalists who were selected from among 62 countries, the winner will be announced in October, according to information from the artist on his social networks, where he also thanked the opportunity and recognized the responsibility that this represents for his profession.

“As part of the activities of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund my work ‘Beautiful Poison’ will be exhibited at Photoville in New York on September 17th. I have learned that recognitions do not come alone, I thank those who supported me, guided me, and took time to see my work. Especially to Yaoci Pardo, thank you very much,” he wrote.

The list of photographers who were selected is as follows:

  1. Lalo de Almeida: “Amazonian dystopia” (Brazil)
  2. Cristopher Rogel Blanquet: “Beautiful Poison” (Mexico)
  3. Dario De Dominicis: “On the left of Christ” (Italy / Project produced in Brazil)
  4. Kimberly de la Cruz: “Death of a Nation” (Philippines)
  5. Fabiola Ferrero: “I can’t hear the birds” (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
  6. Melissa Lyttle: “Where They Stood” (USA)
  7. Zed Nelson: “The Anthropocene Illusion” (UK)
  8. Nicolo Filippo Rosso: “Exodus” (Italy, based in Colombia)
  9. Danielle Villasana: “Abre Camino” (USA, Based in Turkey)

“Beautiful Poison”

With this research project that was carried out two years ago, Cristopher portrays the public health problem associated with the production of flowers in Villa Guerrero, State of Mexico. What can be seen through his images is the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and pesticides in flower crops, which result in irreversible damage due to the misuse of toxic substances. The work was documented photographically with the lives of four families, with whom he spent days and nights.

Cristopher Rogel Blanquet

He is a professor of Photojournalism at the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of UNAM, currently collaborates with the American agency Getty Images, his work has also been part of media such as El Universal, The New York Times, El Mundo, Milenio, and Vice to name a few.

Source: El Heraldo de Mexico

Mexico Daily Post