DESTROYERS OF WORLDS

2021 - 2023

“Destroyers of Worlds”, capture the perils and triumphs of a group of highly educated Mexican immigrants who are attempting to start a new life in Canada, by undertaking the dangerous task of demolishing houses in Toronto. 

Many of these labourers are engineers, lawyers, nurses, architects, teachers, chemists, and university graduates, but due to a multitude of circumstances, they have been forced to leave everything behind to create a better life for themselves and their families.

This series of portraits is also contrasted with a collection of mementos which have been left behind by former owners in the cracks and crevices of homes, which only resurface upon the destruction of their interiors, and in a poetic way, the memories that they once contained as well.

A young man wearing an orange t-shirt, a yellow reflective safety vest, black pants, and tan work boots standing in a dimly lit, dirty room with brick flooring and graffiti on the walls.
Photograph of a young man in casual clothing standing in a construction or renovation site, with brick walls and electrical wiring in the background.
Vintage newspapers and magazines on a wooden surface, with flyers depicting aircraft and soldiers in military gear.
A construction worker wearing a yellow safety helmet, safety glasses, a black hoodie, yellow gloves, and a safety harness with blue straps, standing outdoors with cloudy skies and trees in the background.
A yellow excavator demolishing a house with debris scattered around on sunny day.
A man wearing a high-visibility yellow shirt and gloves stands in front of a demolished house, holding a safety helmet and looking at the camera. An excavator is in the background.
Person using a power drill to break up concrete on a construction site, dust and debris on the floor, with construction tools and equipment in the background.
A man with dark hair, beard, and mustache wearing a yellow high-visibility shirt, black waist support, and gray camouflage pants, standing with arms crossed in a construction or renovation site.
A person holding a smartphone taking a photo of a man speaking at a podium during a formal event.
A construction worker wearing a helmet, face mask, and gloves is working amidst rubble and broken walls. A partially destroyed building is visible in the background.
Young woman sitting outdoors on grass in front of a brown wooden shed, smiling at the camera.
A man with dark hair and a goatee sitting outdoors on a metal chair, with a house and trees in the background. He is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, and beige boots.
A printed photograph of a woman sitting on a porch step, wearing beige pants, boots, and a gray long-sleeve shirt, surrounded by broken glass pieces.
A construction worker wearing a yellow safety coat, gloves, and a white helmet using a power drill on a piece of wood in an indoor construction site.
Old black and white photograph of a boy sitting on a large rock and holding a dog, placed on a wooden surface with rough textured wood beams.
A construction worker wearing a white helmet, a yellow safety vest, and gloves, holding a hammer over his shoulder at a construction site.
Toy red monster truck labeled 'Grave Digger' on a dusty surface. In the background, a cluttered wooden surface with a blurred wall decorated with colorful alphabet letters.
An aerial view of a house under construction with wooden framing, debris, and construction workers.
Construction excavator demolishing a house with debris on the ground in a residential neighborhood.
A group of five children sitting outdoors on rocks, smiling, with Christmas decorations and toys, including a sign that says 'Noel', and a Christmas hat, in a forested area.
A man standing with arms crossed in front of a construction or renovation site, with insulation and ductwork visible behind him and alphabet letters on the wall.
Person wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and dirty gloves showing their hands with torn fingertips, standing on a construction site with debris and wooden planks.
A person wearing a high-visibility safety vest with reflective stripes, showing their hands with blue finger tape, standing on a construction site.
A person wearing a yellow glove holding two smartphones; one displaying a speech recording with the text "This was the day of the inauguration as director," and the other showing a social media post of a man speaking at an indoor event, both devices
Person wearing a black glove holding a smartphone displaying a Facebook post with a photo of a man and three kids smiling.
A construction worker wearing a yellow safety helmet, black shirt, and beige pants with a harness, standing indoors with a serious expression.
A printed portrait of a young man wearing a backwards cap, lying on a sandy surface with scattered debris. Behind him are Canadian immigration documents, including a passport and a visa.
Three men playing cards outdoors, one handing a card to another, with a green trash bin and a fence in the background.
Construction workers in fluorescent vests working with debris and bricks near heavy machinery at a construction site.
A yellow Komatsu excavator demolishing a house with a partially collapsed roof and debris scattered around.
A man standing in a partly demolished room with construction debris, drywall, and tools around him.
Young man sitting on a portable generator in a yard with construction work underway, holding a smartphone with a residential neighborhood in the background.
A man standing on a construction site surrounded by debris and bricks, wearing a black long sleeve shirt, jeans, work boots, and a safety helmet, with greenery and a partially finished porch in the background.
A vintage Valentine's Day card featuring a girl in a colorful dress and bonnet, with a dog, set against a wooden background.
A postcard of the Marshlands Inn, a large historic house in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, with a porch and multiple chimneys, surrounded by trees, resting on rocks and wood debris.
A vintage postcard featuring an illustration of the RMS Titanic on rough seas. Text at the bottom reads "Fort Victoria & Fort St. George's Furness Bermuda Line." The postcard is placed on a cluttered surface with paint chips, dust, and debris.
A vintage postcard with handwritten message, a red stamp, and postmarks, lying on dirt and debris, including rocks, dust, and broken wood.
A handwritten birthday note on a white piece of paper placed on a pile of wood debris inside a house under construction or renovation. In the background, a person wearing a yellow safety helmet, black shirt, jeans, yellow gloves, and a mask is walkin
A construction worker wearing a yellow hard hat, gloves, and a mask is breaking down a wall with a sledgehammer in an unfinished room.
A cork bulletin board displaying a portrait of a man with dark hair and a beard, a fire safety equipment, and some office documents.
A damaged wall covered in colorful graffiti, with holes and debris on the floor.