Only Have Faith

Adél Koleszár’s Only Have Faith explores the violence that has plagued Mexico over the past two decades, contextualizing it within the broader role of photography in representing and perpetuating terror. The so-called war on drugs, initiated in 2006 and funded by the U.S., destabilized communities to control resources, migration, and territories, leaving the population vulnerable.

The project follows a year of excavation at the Colinas de Santa Fe mass grave in the state of Veracruz—a site that emerged from the staggering number of forced disappearances in the country and is considered one of the largest clandestine graves discovered in recent Latin American history. The series tells the story of the mothers of Colectivo Solecito de Veracruz, a volunteer collective who led the search and continue to seek their disappeared loved ones across multiple locations. Their perseverance embodies both resistance and mourning, revealing the human dimension of systemic violence and the emotional hardship left in its wake.

Mainstream media has often sensationalized violence for profit, turning photojournalism into a competitive industry and commodifying tragedy. Adél’s work stands apart by focusing on landscapes, resilient individuals, and a stylistic evolution. She juxtaposes neglected infrastructure with nature’s bounty, capturing the human cost through testimonies rather than graphic imagery.

Adél’s immersion in Mexico’s culture transformed her approach, allowing her to delve deeply into the complexities of violence and reshape her perspective. Created in Veracruz, her project serves as a poignant reflection on the far-reaching effects of systemic exploitation under capitalism.