We are excited to share Photographer/Director Dan Goldberg’s Best of 2025: The second installment of his multi-chapter documentary project, Belly Button. Following the sensory richness and cultural depth of the Mole chapter, Dan takes us further into the heart of Oaxacan life, exploring the artistry and legacy of those who craft Mezcal. Connecting to the idea that, like a Belly Button, “everyone returns to their origins,” this next chapter highlights the spirit that is steeped in history and tradition.
The thread connecting Mole and Mezcal is unmistakable: family, heritage, and the preservation of culture. These intentional and organic themes emerge naturally as Dan immerses himself in Oaxacan traditions. While Mole explored the culinary world through the eyes of Maria and her daughter Marichelle, Mezcal illustrates the craft of Gonzalo Martinez Sernas and his family, who have dedicated their lives to producing this beloved spirit.
Inspired by the quote below from music Producer Rick Rubin, Dan traveled to Mexico initially with just an idea. But through curiosity and peeling back the layers of what it means to distill mezcal, he and his team have created a follow-up installment of Belly Button that instills the exceptionality of Oaxacan heritage.
“If you know what you want to do and you do it, that’s the work of a craftsman. If you begin with a question and use it to guide an adventure of discovery, that’s the work of the artist. The surprises along the way can expand your work, and even the art form itself.”
This project continues to evolve as Dan is currently editing Chapter 3, Maize, and plans to return to Mexico at the end of 2025 to shoot Chapter 4, Coffee.
See the chapter and images from the project below. For more of Dan’s work, visit his Workbook portfolio.
Represented by Heather Elder Represents.
