Photographer Pieter Henket recalls the moment he captured 'La Mujer' (The Woman), an image that immediately felt special. Taken on the first day of his project 'Birds of Mexico City,' the photograph features Ixchel Paz wearing a lucha libre wrestling mask, a potent symbol in Mexico's macho culture. Henket explains that Ixchel was reclaiming that symbol for herself, embodying pride and revolution.
The Genesis of the Project
The project traces its roots to 'Birds of New York,' created during the first Trump administration. Henket observed vibrant young people in New York and thought, 'These kids are like birds. I wish I had been free like them.' He invited them to his studio to celebrate their spirit. After the pandemic, he continued the concept in Mexico City, a place he describes as magical and endlessly creative.
Collaboration and Spontaneity
Henket collaborated with fashion stylist Chino Castilla, who gathered friends and collaborators. The costumes were often unplanned, allowing for spontaneous moments. Ixchel initially wore the mask with bunting, but Henket suggested simplifying. 'Ixchel, you look so beautiful. Would you mind if I take a photo of you just like this?' he asked. She agreed and struck a dignified pose, turning sideways.
'I knew we had something very strong we could build on,' Henket says. 'I always feel that with my projects: I need that first day to crack a code. You create a scene for people, then let them free.'
Empowerment and Representation
In Mexico, the lucha libre mask is traditionally masculine, but Ixchel claimed it for herself. Henket believes this gives the image power. 'The country has a strong machismo culture, but these kids are walking the streets with all their pride and all their happiness, and they don't let anybody get in the way of that.'
Ixchel described the experience as revolutionary: 'Showing myself in an industry full of stereotypical beauty is my way of saying that diversity exists and that I hope more people will see themselves represented. The photograph represents the dignity of bodies and the right to show ourselves without fear, along with the pride of being Mexican and Latina.'
A Broader Message
Henket emphasizes that the project is about young people being free, not solely about queer identity. He hopes a young queer person seeing the image might think, 'These people are just like me,' or 'I can also be like that.' He observes similar 'birds' in London and other cities, celebrating them as he wasn't that kind of teenager himself.
Pieter Henket's 'Birds of Mexico City' is published by Damiani Books.
