Guardians of the glaciers

From January 30 to April 1, 2026, the Instituto Cervantes in New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Peru, will host Guardians of the Glaciers, a photographic and multimedia exhibition by Ángela Ponce, that documents the lives of Quechua communities in Phinaya, Cusco, Peru, at the foot of the Quelccaya glacier, and explores their spiritual and ecological connection to the land through images, testimonies, sound installations, and ritual objects. Structured around four themes—melting ice, way of life, portraits, and Andean spirituality—the show offers a profound reflection on climate change and ancestral wisdom.

Ángela Ponce, a renowned Peruvian photojournalist, has received international recognition for her work with Indigenous communities and her focus on Latin America's social and environmental challenges. Her series Guardians of the Glaciers earned the 2023 Latin America Professional Award from the Sony World Photography Awards, along with support from the Pulitzer Center and National Geographic. In 2025, Forbes named her one of the 50 most powerful women in Peru, highlighting her role as a visual storyteller of Andean struggles and hopes.