THE COLORS OF COLOMBIA

This project is a continuation of my senior capstone research on the War on Drugs, reframed through a deeply personal lens. Born in Bogotá, Colombia in 2002—amid the height of a violent era—my family, like many others, fled in search of safety, eventually settling in Canada. Though I grew up abroad, frequent visits to Colombia revealed a vibrant, complex country far beyond the narrow depictions I encountered—images shaped by media, stereotypes, and drug-related jokes. In response to this one-dimensional narrative, I shipped 15 disposable film cameras to Colombia, asking locals—families, workers, tourists—to document their everyday lives. The resulting photographs form a collaborative portrait of Colombia, capturing its warmth, resilience, and color. This book is a visual counter-narrative, offering a glimpse into a country too often seen in black and white. Through these images, Colombia speaks for itself.