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

In these two towns in the department of Sacatepéquez, the flying of 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 the year.

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

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