Mujer:
Tierra y Orgullo
A small tribute to Mexican Women in the country and agricultural sector.
Role:
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Concept / Ideation
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Author
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Creative Direction
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Art Direction
Artist / Photographer:
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Miguel Milló
Client:
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SAGARPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food of Mexico)
Partners & Collaborators:
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Lacho Villanueva
Overview
Under the leadership of Baltazar Hinojosa, SAGARPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food of Mexico) sought to recognize and elevate the growing presence and influence of women in the countryside and the agricultural sector.
Driven by a commitment to visibility, inclusion, and cultural dignity, the initiative aimed to create more than just a communication piece—it aspired to become a meaningful tribute to the essential, yet often underrepresented, role of rural women in Mexico’s development.
Through this vision, the project Mujer: Tierra y Orgullo was born. It was conceived as a multidisciplinary homage that would combine artistic excellence with deep cultural resonance, blending photography, poetry, and symbolism to reflect the strength, resilience, and nurturing spirit of women who are shaping the future of Mexican agriculture.
This initiative marked a significant cultural statement by SAGARPA, affirming that the legacy and future of the Mexican countryside cannot be told without acknowledging the vital role of the women who live, work, and lead within it.
"Through the artistic vision of Miguel Milló, a small tribute is paid to all of them."
— Raúl E. Galindo Favela, Sub-secretary of Rural Development
Mujer: Tierra y Orgullo
Visión de Miguel Milló
To develop an authentic piece of communication with high cultural, artistic, and aesthetic value that would serve as a lasting testament to the legacy of SAGARPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food of Mexico).
The piece aimed to honor and document the invaluable role of women in the Mexican countryside—highlighting their strength, dedication, and resilience.
The Challenge
It had to be conceived as a tribute that would evoke a deep sense of respect, pride, and national identity, while capturing the emotional and symbolic weight of their daily contributions to the rural fabric of the country.
Through visual storytelling and thoughtful artistic direction, the goal was to elevate their presence into a powerful narrative that preserved both cultural memory and institutional legacy.
The concept
A printed publication that proposed a poetic narrative and uniquely captured the profound role of women in rural Mexico and their significance in the country’s development.
The objective was to spark reflection on this essential topic through the artistic vision of Miguel Milló, a renowned Mexican visual artist and photographer. His work features striking portraits of women adorned with ornaments crafted from natural elements and clay—rendered with exceptional sensitivity and depth.
Through his lens, the project sought to honor the strength, beauty, and enduring impact of these women on the cultural and agricultural landscape of Mexico.
The final concept was to create an analogy of woman as the fertile land of Mexico—from which pride, rootedness, and the very life of the nation emerge.
A series of photographic compositions brought this vision to life, featuring women whose bodies became living canvases—adorned with the fruits of the earth. These images celebrated the intimate connection between the female presence and the richness of the land, blending strength, beauty, and cultural symbolism in a powerful visual tribute.
Narrative
As the point of origin and narrative thread, we created a poem that encapsulated the essence of our tribute:
Woman: Land and Pride
She is the seed from which all life begins,
the plant that nourishes,
the beauty that blossoms each day,
the fragrance of spices that awaken our senses,
the strength of our roots,
the sweetness of the flavors that embrace us,
the essence that breathes life into the land,
and the destiny of the harvest that fills our soil with hope.
Inspired by this poem, the concept was to dedicate each chapter to a different family of agri-food products, expressed through carefully crafted photographic compositions.
Each chapter would be accompanied by text drawing a poetic analogy between the featured product family and the essence of woman—highlighting their shared qualities of vitality, resilience, and beauty. This structure aimed to deepen the tribute, weaving together agriculture and femininity into a unified visual and narrative experience.
The text
The texts were created exclusively for the book and draw from two distinct sources of inspiration.
On one hand, they feature phrases inspired by interviews and conversations with Miguel Milló, capturing his deep sensitivity and enduring connection to the theme of womanhood—a constant presence in his work.
On the other hand, the texts weave in references from traditional songs, popular sayings, and anonymous poems, enriching the artist’s captivating compositions with layers of cultural resonance and poetic nuance.
Reception
The book was unveiled at the large-scale event México Alimentaria Exhibition, where it received an overwhelmingly positive response across multiple sectors.
It was warmly embraced by producers, farmers, and the agri-food industry, as well as by women’s rural organizations and unions. High-ranking members of the Mexican government also expressed strong appreciation, recognizing the work as a meaningful tribute and a powerful cultural statement.
