During her residency in Guatemala, Australian photographer Alana Mc Connom has traveled the country, recording both the landscape and the rich heritage of local traditions. Through her camera, the artist has captured the unique visual impact of the traditional kites of Santiago and Sumpango.

In these two towns in the department of Sacatepéquez, the flying of the giant kites takes place on November 1, on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. The huge structures, made of paper and reeds, manage to rise thanks to the prevailing winds at that time of year.

Their original function was to give material form to the relationship with deceased ancestors. The kites, placed on the tombs, become, as they rise, messages of love and protection against malevolent influences. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, they began to increase in size, also becoming a form of aesthetic expression in which the talent of the community is displayed. The basic principles of their design share, especially in Santiago, patterns of rhythm and color akin to traditional textiles.

The large surfaces of the kites have made it possible to address themes of social relevance on them: care for the environment, the preservation of traditions, the problem of emigration, or the dual Guatemalan and Maya identity. Each year, the November wind carries messages of warmth in which ancestral ties and contemporary concerns intertwine.