For the past two years, Carmen Ordoñez Cartagena has immersed herself in Chicago’s Lowrider community, documenting its vibrancy and cultural richness in her ongoing project, Medio Oeste Lowriders. Concurrently, Ordoñez has collaborated with a local powerlifting gym, capturing the strength and resilience of its Latina women members through her photography. Employing a blend of mediums such as collage, sculpture, video, and digital and analog photography, Ordoñez brings her projects to life. Influenced by Chicago’s rich Latino culture and the Chicano movement, her work aims to give voice to the communities she photographs.
Durante los últimos dos años, Carmen Ordoñez Cartagena se ha sumergido en la comunidad de Lowriders de Chicago, documentando su vitalidad y riqueza cultural en su proyecto en curso, Medio Oeste Lowriders. Al mismo tiempo, Ordoñez ha colaborado con un gimnasio de powerlifting local, capturando la fuerza y la resiliencia de sus miembros latinas a través de su fotografía. Empleando una combinación de medios como collage, escultura, video y fotografía digital y analógica, Ordoñez da vida a sus proyectos. Influenciada por la rica cultura latina de Chicago y el movimiento chicano, su trabajo busca dar voz a las comunidades que fotografía.
As a female photographer navigating environments where women are often marginalized, Ordoñez seeks to reshape this narrative. Her goal is to convey a distinctive female perspective, offering a counterpoint to prevailing stereotypes and fostering greater understanding and appreciation. Her photography is an invitation to question assumptions and rethink the visual narrative surrounding overlooked communities in the United States.
Como fotógrafa en entornos donde las mujeres a menudo son marginadas, Ordoñez busca reconfigurar esta narrativa. Su objetivo es transmitir una perspectiva femenina distintiva, ofreciendo un contrapunto a los estereotipos prevalentes y fomentando una mayor comprensión y apreciación. Su fotografía es una invitación a cuestionar suposiciones y replantear la narrativa visual que rodea a las comunidades subrepresentadas en Estados Unidos.
Ordoñez’ mission is not just to capture moments but to highlight the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping our understanding of cultural identities and experiences. She is an advocate for underrepresented groups in the media, sparking conversations about diversity and inclusion within predominantly Hispanic spaces and social issues. Through her ongoing practice and dedication, she strives to challenge norms and foster a more inclusive visual landscape.
La misión de Ordoñez no es solo capturar momentos, sino también resaltar la importancia de diversas perspectivas en la formación de nuestra comprensión de las identidades y experiencias culturales. Es una defensora de los grupos subrepresentados en los medios de comunicación, iniciando conversaciones sobre diversidad e inclusión dentro de los espacios predominantemente hispanos y temas sociales. A través de su práctica continua y dedicación, se esfuerza por desafiar las normas y promover un paisaje visual más inclusivo.
Carmen Ordoñez
Carmen Ordoñez is a Honduran photographer based in Chicago whose work explores themes of community, feminism, and culture. She engages deeply with various Latino communities, using her photography to challenge assumptions and rethink the visual narrative surrounding overlooked groups in the United States. Ordoñez earned her associate’s degree in photography from Harold Washington College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in photography at Columbia College Chicago. Her work was also featured in the book “Slow and Low,” published in 2023.
Follow her on Instagram @ordonez.photo
