On January 7th, 2021, 23 people were killed by special police forces in La Vega, becoming the deadliest police operative in Caracas’ recent history. La Vega, a barrio known for its roots in salsa music, is now a target in the city’s ruling gang’s search for power and the latest victim of the State’s extrajudicial killing spree—which has led to 4,231 deaths in 2020 alone.
What Remains focuses on the residents of La Vega in the aftermath of a massacre and the uncertainty of the future. Through portraits, reportage, and testimonies, the project reflects the complexities of lives marked by violence and the tragedy that many Venezuelans have come to know too well.
This project adds crucial testimony and visuals to the underreported story of this massacre, as well as shed new light on the larger pandemic of extrajudicial killings that plagues the country. This larger crisis of state violence also remains gravely underreported. Historically, photography reflecting gang and police violence in Caracas spotlights guns, blood, and tears. What Remains will look at what comes after: the silent moments, the routine, the whispers of hope.
