Photo Description: A photo of myself taken at Jardín de Borda in Cuernavaca, México, on my 27th birthday
Illustration and Significance:
Jardín de Borda was originally constructed in the 18th century as the summer residence of a wealthy silver miner, Jose de la Borda. Though it was almost empty when we visited because people were celebrating Mother’s Day, this idyllic estate serves as a gathering place for locals to hang out with friends and family. However, the beauty of the garden reflects a far more complex history because the creation of this estate would not be possible without the exploitation of indigenous labor.
Connection to Themes
History:
Jardín de la Borda reflects a contradiction of colonial history - while the space is beautiful and peaceful now, it was originally created through wealth tied to mining and exploitation of the land and people. It is also tied to stories of an indigenous woman, dubbed La India Bonita (“the pretty Indian”) who was allegedly Maximillian Borda’s lover, depicted in several paintings inside the museum.
Identity:
The story of La India Bonita represents another facet of exploitation during colonial rule - objectification. Specifically, this fits at the intersection of colonialism and sexism. Indigenous women were often fetishized as objects or symbols of desire or beauty while indigenous communities remained marginalized. This is still a problem communities of color face today, where pieces of their culture are admired aesthetically but they are not admired as people.
Education:
This site visit emphasized the importance of viewing historical places through a critical lens. Spaces like this are primary sources in and of themselves that can reveal many things a textbook cannot.
Personal Reflection:
Being able to visit a space like this on my birthday was incredibly special, and my classmates and I were fascinated by the stories this place held. While the garden felt peaceful, it is not a neutral space, and going forward, I want to continue looking at spaces I visit and think about who built these places and where that money came from. This is especially important visiting places in the United States that have been built off the backs of enslaved labor, buildings constructed by exploited workers today. I especially think of spaces like Waikiki when I visit my parents on Oahu that are tourist hubs on illegally stolen land.










