LOOKING FOR THE DIFUNTA CORREA
After crossing the Americas, the official part of the Panamericana ends as a 12 line highway right there, where the city of Buenos Aires starts. Thousands of cars leave this mythical highway every day, rolling as a metallic mass into the Argentine capital.
Driving the highways, the traveler’s eyes are caught by sanctuaries along the road. Water bottles next to a painting of a woman lying on the ground, a baby nursing on her
breasts. The Difunta Correa, saint of the travelers, died of thirst in the desert of San Juan running away from violence and forced marriage while her husband was away fighting in a war. But legend says she asked for a miracle to help her baby survive who’d keep on nursing on her breasts.
And her wish got granted - her baby was still alive when they were found. More miracles followed next to her grave and she became the saint of the travelers. When moving to Argentina ten years, the existence of dozens of Christian and pagan saints has always caught my attention. They are a living example of colonization and yet the persistence of pagan beliefs. I followed the highway to lost villages and small towns in the Province of Buenos Aires, led by the myth of the Difunta Correa, magical realism, and documentary photography.
The highway along the road and entering the city, portraits of travelers and truckers, who especially worship the Difunta, landscapes, the symbolism of water and forced migration, and staged images build this visual metaphorical exploration of this saint that has always deeply moved me as a mother myself.
This project was commissioned together with Ayün Fotógrafas by Republik.
Self portrait with a breast pump as tribute to the Difunta Correa in the San Juan province, Argentina, on Friday, June 3, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
A truck is painted with the Difunta Correa and her baby, a bird, and cactees in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Ricardo thanks the Difunta Correa after a long car ride back for the safe journey in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Two white herons fly over a small creek on a foggy morning in the Valle Fertil, San Juan province, Argentina, on Friday, June 3, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Plates installed by devotees as a thank you after fulfilled dreams and wonders in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Devotees light up candles in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Empty water bottles in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
A lonely road leads through kilometers of desert, mountains and thistle bushes in San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Selfportrait as a tribute to the Difunta Correa in the San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Aerial view of the morning sun illuminating the mountains in San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Cooled candle wax downside the hill in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Tiny houses installed by devotees speak of fulfilled dreams in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
A devotee touches the foot of the Difunta Correa statue in the sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Alejandro, Mia and Cintia stand for a portrait at the Difunta Correa sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
Night sky illuminates cacti and thornbushes in the Valle Fertil, San Juan province, Argentina, on Thursday, June 2, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
A herd of wild guanacos close to the Valle de la Luna, San Juan province, Argentina, on Friday, June 3, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.
The afternoon sun lights up a small shop on the roadside in the San Juan province, Argentina, on Friday, June 3, 2022. In 1841, a young woman, Deolinda Correa, tried to cross the desert of San Juan with her baby, escaping violence and death. She died of thirst in the desert, but her baby miraculously survived on her breasts. The Difunta Correa turned into a Volk saint and thousands of devotees visit her sanctuary in Vallecito, San Juan, every year.