Mining Brazil, 2010

A series of 20 digital images, printed on archival pigment paper, 20"x 25" edition of 3. Installation dimensions variable.

The salt mines of Northern Brazil serve as a compelling case study in the intersection of local tradition and global capitalism. For centuries, these mines have been a cornerstone of the local economy, long predating the advent of corporate interests that have since transformed this indigenous industry into a multimillion-dollar export enterprise. The focal point of this inquiry is an extended exploration of solar evaporation mines, a method of salt production that traces its origins to the earliest observations of salt crystals in trapped seawater pools. This technique is particularly suited to warm climates where the rate of evaporation surpasses that of precipitation, either on an annual basis or for extended durations. The ideal conditions for solar salt production also include the presence of consistent prevailing winds.

Solar evaporation involves the strategic capturing of salt water in shallow ponds, where the sun's energy is harnessed to facilitate the natural evaporation of water, leaving behind concentrated salt deposits. While the initial stages of this industry were characterized by manual labor, technological advancements have led to the mechanization of the salt harvesting process. This shift in production methods is emblematic of broader socio-economic transformations; large corporations have acquired lands traditionally owned by families engaged in salt mining for generations.

This transition from local to corporate ownership raises critical questions about the socio-economic implications of industrialization and globalization on indigenous practices and community livelihoods. It also invites an examination of the ethical dimensions of land acquisition in the context of ancestral ownership and the potential for sustainable coexistence between traditional methods and modern industrial practices. Thus, the salt mines of Northern Brazil serve as a microcosm for exploring the complexities and tensions inherent in the collision of local traditions with global economic imperatives.