This project has been developing from 2015 to the present. It began as an exploratory journey in order to consolidate an imaginary around a territory which, in my view, had not yet been clearly defined. I thought of other places in the world that have a strong associated imaginary, or images that come to mind simply by mentioning their names — such as the desert of Arizona, London or Tuscany. For me, the Atacama Desert did not yet seem to have that condition; I perceived it as almost untouched by a dominant visual narrative.

Over time and after several journeys, what initially began as a process of open and intuitive documentation gradually revealed a much deeper world: a series of traces related to the long extractive history of the territory. A history that stretches from the past into the present, shaping both the landscape and the ways in which the desert is inhabited and imagined.

This long-term visual research explores the landscapes and underlying narratives of the Atacama Desert. The project gradually began to investigate the historical and contemporary transformations of this territory, particularly those related to industrial activity and resource extraction across northern Chile and Bolivia. Over time, the work has expanded to cover a wide dimension of this region, where the current discussions around lithium extraction have also become part of the landscape.

The work approaches a time span that goes from the saltpetre industry of the nineteenth century to the contemporary uncertainty surrounding lithium. Often referred to as the new “white oil,” its exploitation frequently carries the promise of sustainability and clean energy, while simultaneously raising questions about the future of this fragile territory.

The images seek to re-create an unfamiliar space through an aesthetic that sometimes evokes science fiction — landscapes where extra-planetary activities could occur. Yet everything happens here, in the north of Chile: a place that may appear abstract or decontextualized, but that is entirely real.

Part of this work has been supported and disseminated through exhibitions and publications in different institutions and media (CV). Today, the project seeks to deepen a more collaborative process, expanding the discussion through platforms that go beyond photography, involving trans-medial and multidisciplinary approaches.

Selected Publications:

NYT Lithium assignment : https://www.nytimes.com/es/2021/12/28/espanol/chile-consitucion-cambio-climatico.html 
POY Latam winers: https://poylatam.photoshelter.com/gallery/Marcos-Zegers-2ndo-premio/G0000I_vp6eGt8Vs/C00004d1vAGzqiAw
Artsy Magazine, NYC: https://www.artsy.net/aipad-2019/info/artsy-at-the-fair
Noice Magazine, USA: https://www.noicemagazine.com/interview-and-features/marcos-zegers
The Modern Day Explorer: https://www.themoderndayexplorer.com/journal/mining-and-exodus-atacama-desert
Joia Magazine, Chile: http://joiamagazine.com/lo-mejor-de-pictures-of-the-year-latam-2019-primera-parte/
A-Desk Magazine, Spain. Text by Rodolfo Andaur https://a-desk.org/spotlight/naturales-documentos-y-exodos-sobre-marcos-zegers/
Arch Daily, Text by Belen Maiztegui https://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/941762/agua-mineria-y-exodo-las-consecuencias-paisajisticas-de-las-actividades-extractivas-en-el-norte-de-chile

Ignant Magazine UK, 2020 https://www.ignant.com/2020/09/21/marcos-zegers-photographs-the-poignant-impact-of-mining-on-chiles-atacama-desert/