Birds of Mexico City / Pieter Henket

Damiani Books, 2026. Pictorial hardcover. Decorative page edges. New. 

Text by Renata Juárez Huerdo and Justin Gaspar, Foreword by Alberto Bustamante, Afterword by Hubert-Jan Henket, Graphic designer Odilon Coutarel

‘Birds of Mexico City’ is a collection of portraits that Pieter Henket created over the past few years in Mexico City. The series focuses on a new generation of young Mexicans who are redefining contemporary expressions of gender, identity, tradition, and spirituality. 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.