LOS TAQUEROS - Sabor de Esquina

It's April 2022. I was curious about Mexico, a country that kept its borders open while the rest of the world was in a state of stagnation. My time in Mexico City was filled with wondrous moments. An ordinary sight of street food stands and the interaction of strangers seem to me to be something beyond reality - almost utopic.

The events of the past two years have accelerated the changes in our society. This has highlighted true human values that necessitate reevaluation of the importance of physical interactions and chance encounters. It's a futile effort to defy the overarching social norm where we find ourselves with minimal social exchanges. However the quiet but powerful presence of the taqueros on the street corners seem to be in direct conflict with these trends.

Los taqueros are taco chefs. In contrast to today's world where many restaurants including the taquerias have adapted their operation to meet economic demands, there are a few taqueros who continue to make and serve tacos the old fashioned way. Their survival is deep rooted in the land, their strength is self-reliant and the sense of comfort they bring to the community remind us of what it means to be human, something many people tend to forget in today's society. I felt a sense of nostalgia and joy from their magnetic presence, their attitude towards the craft, and their interaction with the locals.

[...] Taquerias are now wrapped in plastic tarp. Eating at the stands are prohibited and masks are mandatory. Under these circumstances, the idiosyncratic interaction and human relationships on the streetscapes are becoming rare and would probably be a thing of the past. Due to pandemic measures we have lost the social aspect of the taqueria experience. As I was casually walking along the street, a taqueria suddenly appeared in front of me and I stopped to order a taco. It was a 15 minute wait and this 'interval' was blissful.

In today’s world of personalised and convenient consumerism. We are able to choose what we want and when we want it. We can order from a taco stand just a mere 3 kilometres away, delivered by a stranger in under 30 minutes. This leaves very little for the unforeseen and the organic encounter with the makers.

I would like to continue walking the streets. I want to enjoy those encounters with the 'unexpected'. Walking aimlessly without purpose or destination, capturing the blissful moments bestowed by an entity that exist beyond the limitation of my body and mind. I will walk today, with my camera in hand, in the direction my heart leads me.