PRODUCTION
This project is a collaboration with Ecolibri, rooted in the hope of preserving and documenting the dying sustainable crafts of the Lake Atitlán region. By working directly with the village elders who still hold this ancestral knowledge, we are creating a living record of the cultural and ecological wisdom woven into their traditions.
Maguey: Matter Becoming Memory is one short film in an ongoing documentary series. Each installment serves as a tribute to these artisans and a vital archive of the sustainable practices that have defined the Mayan traditions for generations, ensuring their legacy is not lost to time and the modern world.
Maguey
The process of turning the maguey plant into functional fiber is a labor of patience and physical strength, requiring a deep understanding of the land’s raw materials. It was once the cornerstone of San Pablo La Laguna, a practice so deeply woven into the local identity that 90 percent of the village took part in its production. Today, this tradition has shifted from a common skill to a rare tradition, held now by only five families elders. For them, weaving maguey isn't just a manual task; it’s the physical act of turning a living leaf into a lasting memory, maintaining a connection to a sustainable way of life that is slowly fading from the shores of Lake Atitlán.