Journalist, musician, and writer Felipe Machado photographed Mexicans of all ages during the Day of the Dead parade held on November 2, 2017, on Avenida Reforma in downtown Mexico City. The result is the book * La Fiesta de Los Vivos* , now published by Afluente under the supervision of curator Julius Wiedemann . The initial idea for the work arose from a homonymous exhibition organized by Felipe Machado and shown at the Memorial da América Latina in São Paulo in 2019.
The deluxe trilingual edition (Portuguese, Spanish, and English) – which is already on sale on the publisher's website – features texts by Felipe Machado and the renowned Mexican journalist Brenda Estefan , a columnist for the newspaper Reforma . Brenda is a professor at the Pan-American Institute of Senior Management (IPADE) and collaborates as an international policy analyst for various media outlets in Mexico and abroad.
“I’ve spent the Day of the Dead in Mexico a few times, and this celebration has always fascinated me. It’s very curious to see how Mexicans face death with joy, unlike the sadness it inspires in most people. Mexicans celebrate their dead by valuing life, and I think it was this paradox that attracted me when I wanted to capture the facial expressions of these wonderful people during this colorful and popular festival,” says Felipe.
“It’s a tradition that reflects the Mexican soul, an echo of our beliefs, our desires, and our deepest fears. In it, we find the hope that, although time wears down our bodies, the spirit endures forever,” adds Brenda Estefan, in the presentation of “La Fiesta de Los Vivos”.
The Day of the Dead is one of the most representative celebrations of Mexican culture. The festival – considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) – brings families and communities together to honor their ancestors. On this day, the living meet with the dead to celebrate life and death through a feast of flavors, colors, and music.
Learn more about the book launch event:
Title : La Fiesta de Los Vivos
Author : Felipe Machado
Format : 19 x 26 cm
200 pages
Price : 230 Reais
Launch : Saturday, November 2nd
Time: 4 PM
Location: Maquinaria Festival at Casa70Rio – Instituto Brando Barbosa – R. Lopes Quintas, 497, Rio de Janeiro
