POEMS I BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN | Maya of the Guatemalan Highlands
Photographer: Cory Zimmerman
Exhibit Title: POEMS I BROUGHT DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN | Maya of the Guatemalan Highlands
Location: Guatemala
I am drawn to real places where the past resonates and connections unfold, places unpaved, where I can look back to see how far I have come. Upon arriving at the last home in the village, I exchange glances of gratitude with an entire family living in little more than a cattle shed. Despite enduring genocide, displacement, and unimaginable descrimination, resilience thrives on dirt floors. The Maya of Guatemala communicate through the eyes, revealing unspoken dreams hidden within.
After taking a dozen portraits, we gather by the wood stove, sharing tortillas and boiled eggs. I imagine immersing myself in simplicity, yet I know I must leave the warmth and step outside into the mist, feeling the weight of an ancient legacy.
Before descending the mountain, I turn back to see a child with gleaming gold teeth and a broad smile. She seems to yearn for recognition, as if disappearing from sight would feel akin to death. Raising my camera, I worry her weary eyes might be perceived through a lens of pity. As she waves goodbye, a fading silhouette, a dream—as clear day against a backdrop of mist.
Cory Zimmerman is a documentary photographer based in Mexico City, where he has lived and worked for nearly a decade. With a focus on humanitarian, social, and cultural themes, Zimmerman’s photography aims to promote human connection and empathy while shedding light on injustices and diverse ways of life.
Zimmerman's work has taken him across the globe, capturing powerful narratives from within Central American migrant caravans to the Maya communities in Guatemala to the slums of India. Each project reflects his commitment to highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity.
Currently, Cory is completing a new photo book dedicated to his work with the Maya, alongside efforts to curate an exhibition in Latin America. He believes that the grain of a photograph parallels the grit that settles in the cracks of society, embodying the grime of life that binds us all together as one species.
“Compassion is my religion,” Zimmerman asserts. He emphasizes that while empathy is the foundation of civilization, conscious awareness—the ability to see clearly—truly births the realization that when one man suffers, we all suffer. For Zimmerman, the camera is an unparalleled tool for building a just world and a lethal weapon against injustice.
Through his lens, Cory Zimmerman continues to inspire a deeper understanding of our shared humanity, urging viewers to engage with the stories that connect us all.
Feed the Children, Guatemala
ASSADE, Guatemala
Cory Zimmerman
Ciudad de Mexico
Cz@czstudio.works
+52 55 4935 7901 MX
+1 908 292 8911 US
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