FERMÍN GUZMÁN

May 13

Fermín Guzmán is a street photographer, born in Mexico City. With his camera h seeks to capture those unique and magical moments that can only be found in Mexico. His work refers to the urban, capturing its territory.

Fermín shares with Retina Latin America this project that was carried out within a alcoholism rehabilitation center and the connections that he established. as well as the loss of his brother in the course of this documentary.

CERVIDA

How and why the project CERVIDA emerges?

FG: In those years my younger brother had serious problems with alcoholism and my parents, not being able to control it, had to seek help in rehabilitation centers for alcoholics and addicts. In those centers, they admitted my brother on several occasions to a center called CERVIDA. From that moment, my curiosity arises and the need to get closer to observe what was happening inside this place.

“They admitted my brother on several occasions to a center called CERVIDA. From that moment, my curiosity arises and the need to get closer to observe what was happening inside this place”

What was your intention of documenting people in rehabilitation centers?

FG: I approached people there to find out that my brother was safe in the place and then little by little the need to document what was happening inside with my camera. Later I understood that it is important for Mexican society to become aware through my images about this terrible disease is alcoholism and its ravages, above all, I seek that young people who see these images are impacted and prefer to moderate with their way of drinking, or maybe they'll quit completely if they feel vulnerable to alcohol and know they can't quit easily.

“ I seek that young people who see these images are impacted and prefer to moderate with their way of drinking, or maybe they’ll quit completely if they feel vulnerable to alcohol and know they can’t quit easily”

How has been your photographic development during your time there? Tell us about your process.

FG: Actually, all I did was go constantly to the place, I was present at CERVIDA for almost 3 years, there were weeks when I went daily and other times 4 or 5 times a week. This helped the people who ran the place and the inmates to trust me, this trust was reflected in the images because it was practically unnoticed by everyone and that is what makes the images more natural and more dramatic.

About your long-term experience with this project, how has your work methodology changed or it remained as expected?

FG: I did not change my way of working because it gave me good results. From the beginning, I did not imagine that the project would have such an impact because I did not think that I would get so involved, for this reason, it was not what I expected it was much better.

What is your opinion on Cervida once you finished it?

FG: So far I have a hard time seeing these images because they remind me of my brother who unfortunately passed away from the disease of alcoholism. On the other hand, I dedicate this work to him and I hope that the people who see it become aware of the damage that it can bring to their lives, not only alcoholism but all additions.

“So far I have a hard time seeing these images because they remind me of my brother who unfortunately passed away from the disease of alcoholism”

Do you live or work in a high-risk region?

FG: All my life I have spent in the municipality of Chimalhuacán in EDOMEX and unfortunately, things here are not easy because there are all those evils. But despite that, I have seen firsthand that here there are more good people than bad and that gives me hope and that is why I document my municipality showing only the good because I am against giving it more importance and replicating the bad more than the good.

What other work or style do you develop in the photographic field?

FG: After almost 13 years with my camera, I can proudly say that I am a street photographer, more than anything else. I know that many do not like that term, they even think that it does not exist, but in the end, each one has their issues and ideas.