“Arraigo”: Intimate Portraits of Mérida’s Disappearing Cultural Heritage

French documentary photographer Bénédicte Desrus presents an extraordinary visual record of Yucatecan identity in “Arraigo”—a stunning book capturing 61 families in their ancestral homes within Mérida’s historic center. Over two years, Desrus earned residents’ trust to photograph them surrounded by treasured possessions: vintage photographs, inherited furniture, traditional mosaic floors, and sacred family altars spanning generations. This documentation proves increasingly precious as Mérida transforms into Mexico’s 10th largest metropolitan area with 250,000 new residents and rising gentrification converting colonial mansions into hotels and restaurants. Two subjects have already passed away, their homes emptied and renovated, erasing decades of family history. “Arraigo” offers irreplaceable glimpses into authentic Yucatecan domestic life—cultural heritage that might otherwise vanish forever. With over 20 years documenting communities internationally, Desrus preserves what residents nostalgically call “otra época” (another time) before rapid urban development severs these deep cultural roots. Soft cover.