Roxana Allison

Mexicans/UK (2015)

Mexicans/UK is a photographic collaboration between Mexican-British brother and sister Pablo and Roxana Allison. It seeks to give exposure and recognition to the Mexicans residing in this country - either temporarily or permanently - highlighting and acknowledging their contributions to British society whilst dissolving stereotypes commonly attached to Mexican culture.

The project focuses on the diversity of backgrounds and life-stories of the people that make up this migrant community in the UK.

Thousands of Mexicans live around the world, 11,000 are estimated to live in the United Kingdom. Having left their motherland for various reasons, the majority will return to Mexico but others won’t. Some might feel at home in their new environment while others feel self-exiled and not completely settled.

Mexico is widely recognised for its rich and vast cultural heritage, however for over 10 years the country has lived through a war on drugs that has triggered high levels of insecurity and violence convulsing Mexicans lives. 

Therefore, the common feeling of most of those portrayed for this project is of uncertainty, concerned about Mexico’s present and future.

Mexicans/UK was awarded funding by the Embassy of Spain’s Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs and the University of London and was included in the Being Human Festival 2015 programme held at Senate House, (University of London) last November.  View the website project here.

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