Depression in Zaruma
by Fabiola Cedillo
portfolio winners call 'URBANAUTICA INSTITUTE AWARDS 2021', 2021
Category: Nature, Environment and Perspectives
Zaruma (Ecuador) is a mining city. I seek flares of cracked states, struggle, faith, and irony in this territory that, just as in the human body and psyche, can be progressively excavated from the inside until the point of collapse. This project is an analogy of emotional depression in people. This story's about extraction impacts and admitting that we live in a world damaged by the unbridled greed of capitalism. Zaruma City in the Province of El Oro is known for its mining activity which began centuries ago in the Pre-Inca period. The value of gold and lives taken there have been engraved in the collective memory of their inhabitants. Zaruma City is currently collapsing, and it could likely disappear due to illegal and artisanal mining excavations held today. In recent years, the territory has shown gold depletion on the surface layers of the mining areas, which motivated villagers to dig illegal and foolish excavations in the urban area, creating risky conditions for themselves and the community.