"How Many Days Have Passed Since the Last Time?" – A heartwarming photo project reuniting Venezuelan families separated by migration.
In the bustling city of Miami, a new initiative is bringing tears of joy to Venezuelan families separated by the ongoing crisis. Photographer Roberto Mata, under the project ‘#PídemeUnRetrato’ (Ask me for a portrait), is offering his services to create portraits of relatives living abroad, giving families the chance to see each other’s faces and share messages, despite the distance.
Gisela, a 71-year-old woman living in Caracas, hasn’t seen her son Edson in over 3,400 days. Although she doesn’t keep track of the number, the distance between them has felt interminable. When Mata offered to take her portrait to give to Edson, Gisela couldn’t hold back her emotions. "I miss him, but I don’t tell him because it makes him sad," she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I wish I could cook for him, make his favorite desserts. I just want to hug him and tell him how much I love him."
Mata, himself a migrant, understands the pain of separation. He moved to Miami in 2019, leaving behind his native Venezuela and his family. "I haven’t seen my brother in Argentina for seven years," he said. "Reuniting with him in September was a miracle. I wanted to share that joy with others, so I started this project."
The photographer, known for his editorial and advertising work, challenged himself to become a family portraitist. Thanks to social media, he received over 100 requests from Venezuelans living abroad, eager to have a recent portrait of their relatives in Venezuela. Mata chose the most heartbreaking cases, those where family members had been separated for over five years, with no chance of reuniting in the near future.
Maia, a 9-year-old girl living in Caracas, hasn’t seen her father in more than 2,400 days. She misses him dearly, but her smile lights up the room as she poses for the camera. "I want to draw with him, I want him to take me to a amusement park," she says, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Despite the distance, her joy is contagious.
Diamante, an 85-year-old woman, hasn’t seen her nieceLaura in over 2,600 days. Her granddaughter’s absence is a constant pain in her heart. "I adore Laura, I want to see her, hug her tightly," Diamante says, her voice trembling with emotion. "She’s the continuation of my daughter, and I need her here with me."
Mata confesses that he struggled to maintain his composure as he captured these heartwrenching moments. "I couldn’t extend the drama any further, so I focused on capturing genuine smiles and laughter. I wanted these portraits to be a celebration of our memories, even if it’s just for a moment."
Juan Pablo, a 27-year-old man living in New York, couldn’t contain his excitement when he finally received his grandparents’ portrait. Seeing his abuelos (grandparents) together, with his abuelo rides a motorcycle and his abuela by his side, brought him immense joy and hope. "This photo is exactly what I needed to keep moving forward," Juan Pablo said. "It’s filled me with energy and renewed my spirit."
Many Venezuelan migrants who have seen Mata’s work connect with the project, even if they aren’t directly related to the subjects. When I shared my story about my 8-year-old son, Andrés, who lives with me in Miami and hasn’t seen his abuela (grandmother) in Venezuela since he was a baby, Mata offered to capture his portrait to send to her. Her reaction was priceless: "Qué hermoso, estoy superimposed emocionada, no te imaginas lo sensible que estoy con ese regalo. Es lo máximo que me han podido regalar en años. Cómo quisiera darle un abrazo fuerte."
Mata emphasizes that the heart of his project is re…
