El Salvador, June 2004
Le Salvador, Juin 2004
© Christian POVEDA / Agence VU

La Vida Loca – El Salvador
France/Spain

Maras are groups of youths that spread terror throughout Central America. They can be recognised by their head to foot tattoos and are heavily involved in drug and arms dealing. Each gang has its own coded language, rituals, tattoos and hatred for the rival gang.

This project shows the youths who suffer, who resent and dislike us, their experience of existence in a thankless world where they simply want to find their place. To understand their hatred for mainstream society, we need to see what is behind it. It is hatred born of exploitation, oppression and daily humiliation. This is not inter-generational conflict, but an anthropological confrontation.