How human traces become art over time
By Sandra Broerse
20 June 2007
A mining town in the Chihuahuan desert highlands that was abandoned by it's 40.000 inhabitants early last century. It became almost totally deserted and was crumbling down.
Real de Catorce is a remote place, after leaving the highway, you have to drive a 24 km cobblestone road. Perhaps the longest in the world. The road ends and the 2.3 km. Ogarrio tunnel begins. The tunnel is the only way to enter town and if you've seen the movie The Mexican, you'll recognise it: Brad Pitt drove through it.
Nowadays, Real de Catorce has begun to attract trendier residents: Well-to-do Mexicans and gringos, looking for an unusual retreat. The town is coming back to life again and a lot of buildings in the centre are restored. It's beautiful surroundings make it a very tranquil place to hang out. This is Real's website: www.realdecatorce.net
Luckily it's still possible to find abandoned parts in the outskirts of the city. The crumbled buildings and overgrown cobblestone roads.
Here you'll also find traces of former inhabitants. An old chair, a soccer-table or an old shoe.
These items are now part of their surroundings. They formed a composition and became a piece of art.
