Pedro Valtierra. Return to the Land of the Quetzal
This exhibition aims to reappraise Valtierra's work, highlighting over 50 years of his experience.
Image Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Raquel Miguel Soto, Alfonso Navarrete and Alejandro Zepeda
Refugees waiting for the doctor (1982) by Pedro ValtierraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Welcome to the Land of the Quetzal
Originally showcased in 1983 at the House of Photography, this exhibition brought together three impactful reports. These reports, published in the newspaper unomasuno between 1980 and 1982, vividly depicted the reality of Mayan refugees in Mexico and the Guatemalan guerrillas.
The Guatemalan exodus
The Guatemalan exodus was a large-scale, forced migration primarily of indigenous Mayans. They fled their country between 1980 and 1996, seeking refuge from Guatemala's devastating civil war (1960-1996).
Refugee girl in Mexico (1982) by Pedro ValtierraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Entire families walked for days through the jungle in search of safety, many of them seeking refuge in southern Mexico. This mass exodus became one of the most significant forced displacements in the history of Central America.
Museum room register (2025) by Elic HerreraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Testimonials
Pedro Valtierra documented the exodus, highlighting the conditions under which people fled, the dangers they faced, and the solidarity networks that were formed in exile.
Valtierra's gaze
His testimony has been key to understanding not only the Guatemalan exodus, but also state violence in Latin America and the human consequences of armed conflicts.
Training (1982) by Pedro ValtierraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
42 years later...
The Land of the Quetzal returns and is presented at the Centro de la Imagen to re-evaluate the perspective of photojournalist Pedro Valtierra and recognize 50 years of experience in documentary photography.
Museum room register (2025) by Elic HerreraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Return to the Land of the Quetzal
This exhibition includes more than 90 period photographs, printed by the author himself, 74 of which belong to the CI's Mexican Photography Council Collection and were part of the original exhibition.
Listen to Pedro Valtierra
Discover his beginnings in documentary photography, his experiences in the war, and his motivations as a photographer.
Complement your visit to the exhibition
Discover more photographs from the exhibition at the Centro de la Imagen in our exhibition booklet (ES only).
Book (2025) by Acervo del Centro de la ImagenImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Bibliography accompanying the exhibition
The Centro de la Imagen's specialized library has prepared a selection of fourteen books where you can learn more about Pedro Valtierra's documentary work. Check it out (ES only)!
Images: Pedro Valtierra
Writing: Raquel Miguel Soto, Alfonso Navarrete, and Alejandro Zepeda.
Sources: Image Center
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