The photographs presented here document the exhibitions held over two days as part of the Research Project on 20th Century Ixil History, conducted by students from the Universidad Ixil. These two days are part of the five sacred days of the Maya-Ixil calendar, which mark the transition to the Maya New Year. The images capture key moments of an academic and community-driven process that faced various challenges and achieved significant outcomes.
On the first day, the exhibition took place in the Plaza de Nebaj. The photographs, framed on special cardboard, were not weatherproof, making them vulnerable to the elements. When it began to drizzle, there was concern that the images might be damaged. The students, demonstrating ingenuity and quick thinking, went to a nearby stationery store and purchased plastic book covers. With this material, they improvised moisture-resistant covers, allowing the exhibition to proceed as planned. Each student briefly presented the results of their research to the community, fostering a valuable exchange of knowledge.
On the second day, the exhibition was moved to the Municipal Hall of Nebaj, a space that also served as a sports court. The photographs were displayed on the hall’s bleachers, offering a different arrangement that facilitated closer interaction with the attendees. This day coincided with the graduation of students from the Technical Program in Community Rural Development, a program supported by the University of Chile. The event brought together a diverse and significant audience, including high-ranking government officials, United Nations representatives, and other important guests. The photographic exhibition complemented the graduation ceremony, allowing attendees to learn about the students’ work in a context that celebrated both their academic achievements and their commitment to the community.
This documentation underscores the significative impact that collaborative, multidirectional research can have on both the academic community and the broader society. The process documented here exemplifies how such research approaches can enrich the practice of ethnography, particularly visual ethnography, by fostering deeper connections between researchers and the communities they study. Through creative problem-solving and active community engagement, the students demonstrated that ethnographic work can be both academically rigorous and socially transformative, offering a model for more inclusive and impactful research practices.