Pieter Henket: Birds of Mexico City

 

After spending significant time in the city, Henket and stylist Chino Castilla established a physical space where artists could collaborate and express themselves freely. The space became a vibrant intersection of disciplines —dancers, mask-makers, designers, and performers— each exploring the boundaries between Mexico’s deeply rooted Catholic traditions and the freedom of modern self-expression. Within this setting, Henket and Castilla worked closely with each participant to create visual narratives that reflected the tension and harmony between their cultural heritage and their lived identities.

 

Pieter Henket is a Dutch photographer based in New York City, known for a style inspired by the 17th‑century painting. His previous publications include Congo Tales, a photo series documenting Congolese communities enacting their mythologies, The Way I See It (2013) and Stars to the Sun (2014). Henket is also celebrated for his celebrity portraiture, notably the cover of Lady Gaga’s debut album The Fame. His work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Museum de Fundatie in the Netherlands, and Museum Barberini in Germany, and is held in numerous collections worldwide, including the Rijksmuseum.

 

Chino Castilla is a Mexican stylist and creative director whose work bridges fashion, identity, and visual storytelling. Known for his bold use of symbolism and cultural references, he played a pivotal role in shaping the visual language of Birds of Mexico City, crafting the looks that embody the dialogue between Mexico’s traditions and the self-expression of its youth.

 

Renata Juárez Huerdo is a writer, poet, and cultural entrepreneur based in Mexico City. Her work explores themes of identity, gender, and cultural memory. She is also involved in programming at the Casa de la Literatura Gabriel García Márquez and hosts immersive cultural experiences in Mexico City.

 

Text by Renata Juárez Huerdo and Justin Gaspar

Foreword by Alberto Bustamante

Afterword by Hubert-Jan Henket

©Photographs by Pieter Henket