Only Have Faith – My Contribution to the Book
It was an honor and joy to take part in the making of Only Have Faith as the book’s English language editor. Adél Koleszár’s work has been important to me for many years, and this project in particular has always held a special place in my heart. When Adél invited me to join the team, I felt deeply grateful. Working with her and the entire crew was inspiring in every way, and together we created a book we are all profoundly proud of.
About the Book
Only Have Faith explores the violence that has plagued Mexico over the past two decades, contextualizing it within the broader role of photography in representing and perpetuating terror. The so-called war on drugs, initiated in 2008 and funded by the U.S., destabilized communities to control resources, migration, and territories, leaving the population vulnerable.
The series tells the story of the mothers of Colectivo Solecito de Veracruz, who have been searching—and continue to search—for their disappeared loved ones in the Colinas de Santa Fe mass grave. Their perseverance embodies both resistance and mourning, revealing the human dimension of systemic violence.
Mainstream media has often sensationalized violence for profit, turning photojournalism into a competitive industry and commodifying tragedy. Adél’s work stands apart by focusing on landscapes, resilient individuals, and a stylistic evolution. She juxtaposes neglected infrastructure with nature’s bounty, capturing the human cost through testimonies rather than graphic imagery.
Adél’s immersion in Mexico’s culture transformed her approach, allowing her to delve deeply into the complexities of violence and reshape her perspective. Created in Veracruz, her project serves as a poignant reflection on the far-reaching effects of systemic exploitation under capitalism.
About the Artist
Adél Koleszár (b. 1986, Hungary) explores how systemic violence reshapes culture and identity, creating long-lasting changes in social structures, human behavior, and the self. Through photography, she collaborates with marginalized groups and individuals, highlighting their unorthodox yet constructive responses to violence, poverty, and segregation.
About the Publisher