This Land is Your Land

Untitled by Alejandro Martinez

This photograph by Alejandro Martinez was created in collaboration with BorderClick, a digital living archive that explores the complexities of the transfronterizo experience. The archive was founded by two artists and The AjA Project, a non profit that provides access to arts programming to youth in the most diverse and historically under-served communities of San Diego. Founded in 2000, The AjA Project is an acronym for the phrase Autosuficiencia Juntada con Apoyo, meaning “supporting self-sufficiency." BorderClick aims to portray the authentic experiences of those who cross the Mexican-American border through photography. The collection of images depicts the struggles that “border-crossers” deal with on a daily basis and challenges the stereotypes surrounding border issues and immigrants. Read more about BorderClick here. 



Martinez uses a double exposure technique to capture the double life experienced by those who commute across the border between the United States and Mexico for work and housing. This photograph depicts the San Ysidro Port of Entry at the Tijuana/San Diego border. As the world’s fourth busiest land border crossing, it can take hours to cross. How are borders yet another impediment to working together to solve environmental crises?


“Borderclick’s mission aims to give lyrical visual representation to transfronterizx life through photography, 360 video, and social media. By capturing the feelings, memories and experiences living between two cultures and nations, Mexico and the United States, they bring an authentic and honest challenge to the common stereotypes of 'border-crossers.' Throughout this process of self-exploration, they have discovered that despite the intentionally isolating effects of the physical border wall, the challenge of crossing it on a daily basis, and its extensive violence upon their minds and bodies, they have managed to find and connect with one another and help visualize an otherwise invisible community. They have learned how to collaborate, engage others in dialogue around border issues, and pledge to continue to support each other and advocate for their communities in our pursuit of self-improvement, social justice, and civic engagement.”

Explore BorderClick's Instagram here. 

This page has paths:

This page references: