Today is Cinco de Mayo, the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla—remember, Mexican Independence Day isn't until September—in which a scrappy Mexican Army won a heroic victory over imperialist French forces. Take this opportunity to ditch tasteless, Mexican-themed blackout sessions and either read up on the holiday's fascinating history, or check out what creative people actually living in Mexico have to offer.
Below, we've gathered six GIF artists living and working in cities across los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. They're photographers and animators, part of a vibrant creative community that can be overshadowed in the US by stale tropes or, more recently, rhetoric about strong-arming the nation into building an expensive and ineffective wall along the border. Get a glimpse into the minds of Cecy Meade, Alina Sanchez, Origa Miranda, Brenfi, Yasmin Islas, and Jamie Martinez below.
Origa Miranda
Cecy Meade
Alina Sanchez
Yasmin Islas
Brenfi
Amaranta Delgado
Find more Mexican GIF artists on GIPHY.
Related:
A Japanese Art Collective Had a Funeral for Liberty on the US–Mexico Border
Trump's Border Wall Got a Redesign by a Latino-Owned Contracting Firm