WOODEN HOME | MEXICO

MIGUEL COBOS

A man’s life entwined with the sea, is shattered by hurricanes fueled by climate change. A resilient journey unfolds, revealing a community’s struggle for a new home.

In the coastal town of El Bosque, Tabasco, Mexico, Miguel Angel Cobos Cabrera’s life is intricately connected to the sea. Arriving in the idyllic town in the mid-’80s, he found solace in its quiet charm—the silence, the beach, and the nearby river.

For Miguel, the sea was more than a scenic backdrop; it was his life. However, climate change, in the form of hurricanes and sea level rise, violently reshaped his world. The once-thriving community, once about 1,500-2,000 meters from the sea, succumbed to the relentless force of the ocean.

In the face of destruction, Miguel’s resilience stood firm, yet the haunting memory of that hurricane lingers, forcing him and his neighbors to seek refuge elsewhere, away from a home now forever altered.

Object of Memory

Miguel’s home, a humble wooden structure with a concrete room, bore the brunt of the hurricane’s fury. As the sea encroached, his neighbors warned him that his tank, his possessions, everything was at risk of being swallowed by the rising waters. Hastily salvaging a few belongings, including his refrigerator, Miguel witnessed the destruction of his cherished home and the shared devastation of his community.

Forced to migrate to Frontera, an uncertain reality unfolded—hurricanes, fierce agents of climate change, not only eroded homes but also uprooted the very essence of El Bosque. The fishermen community, now displaced, faces an uncertain future, questioning if their new settlement will ever replicate the familiarity of the coast and riverbanks they once called home.