Mexico divided: Stark unaltered photographs capture middle class affluence side-by-side with extreme urban poverty

By Kieran Corcoran

Published: 05:08 EST, 18 May 2014 | Updated: 09:56 EST, 18 May 2014

These striking photographs show the scale of poverty - and affluence - that live shoulder-to-shoulder in Mexican cities.

A modern, luxury apartment block towers with confidence over its surroundings. Residents enjoy the view from their rooftop gardens but - tellingly - have set up large screens to block out the view in one direction.

If they were to peer round the barricades, however, they would be confronted with a slum-like maze of cramped, tumbledown concrete constructions just inches from their plush existences.

The photographs were produced by ad firm Publicis, based in Mexico City. In a nod to the sheer disparity on display, creators of the anti-poverty ad campaign, called Erase the Differences, felt compelled to put a disclaimer on each picture reading: 'This image has not been modified. It's time to change that'.

Haves and have-nots: This lavish block of apartments can be seen right next to a sea of tumbledown flats - though residents have blocked off the view

Haves and have-nots: This lavish block of apartments can be seen right next to a sea of tumbledown flats - though residents have blocked off the view

Striking: The bright whites and colourful roofs of the wealthier homes are a graphic contrast with the dull concrete just over the wall

Striking: The bright whites and colourful roofs of the wealthier homes are a graphic contrast with the dull concrete just over the wall

Tumbeldown: The smart roofs and garages of the homes in the foreground are a far cry from the corrugated roofs and makeshift washing lines of the poorer homes

Tumbeldown: The smart roofs and garages of the homes in the foreground are a far cry from the corrugated roofs and makeshift washing lines of the poorer homes

Wrong side of the tracks: Manicured lawns, smart driveways and a concealing screen of greenery separate the affluent homes from their less wealthy equivalents

Wrong side of the tracks: Manicured lawns, smart driveways and a concealing screen of greenery separate the affluent homes from their less wealthy equivalents

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How is this even possible. As human beings, what have we become?

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Just like a scene from Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil'. Oh, world, what have we come to?

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Unfettered capitalism is killing planet Earth... Vote Labour!!! DESTROY UKIP!!!!

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When I went to Alcapulco that is exactly how I saw the area. very sad. it is nothing like you see in the old movies. Not only dirty but dangerous. We had to pay some guy $5 just to get across the street. crazy. - And as an aside I went diving and they have ruined the sea too

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This is also aparent in britian....

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They need to fence off the poorer areas with some electric fencing so that they don't come robbing the bins.

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Marc-B Don't be so ignorant my friend. Some of us Mexican/Americans never 'moved' into this country. Some of us have had roots planted here long before it's was the US. And you want me to leave? It's just like saying the whites are the true Americans of this land after they made sure genoside was carried out to claim this land.

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We should make payment and enforcement of much higher taxes on the rich and middle classes in countries like Mexico and Brazil a precondition for payment of any aid to those countries.

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I'm sure you get that in England too...only worse.

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Same thing happens everywhere in the world including UK. What's so unusual about this?

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