We created PhotoVogue Festival Echoes to allow those who participated in the event to contribute their voices to the Festival s narrative. During those days in Milan, we recognised our community s desire to come together and draw inspiration from each other s works. We highly value the sharing of experiences and practices, firmly believing that providing dedicated space to each artist can appropriately acknowledge the outstanding projects exhibited in November at the PhotoVogue Festival.
Enrique Leyva is the protagonist of the 8th episode of PhotoVogue Festival Echoes. He participated at the PhotoVogue Festival in Milan with the project ‘Mi Gente/My People’ capturing the faces and bodies from the place where he belongs, Oaxaca. ‘Mi Gente’ is a visual acknowledgement of his heritage, offering recognition to a culture that colonisation has sought to erase. In a joyous yet powerful and melancholic way, Enrique Leyva gives back pride to his people through portraits where subjects stand firmly in front of the camera, in control of their lives, culture, and narrative.
1. What is your favorite memory of the PhotoVogue Festival 2023?
Definitely meeting so many photographers who followed their careers before, it is like meeting your heroes and of course also meeting them in a more personal way and also meeting the entire team behind the festival who put in their time to present our work as photographers in a unique way. emerging.
2. In your practice, what do you feel it’s important to have in mind when you portray people who have been underrepresented? Do you have any suggestions for other artists?
I believe that, similar to certain parts of the United States, a new wave is emerging in Latin America concerning the representation of Latinos across various areas. My perspective primarily focuses on the representation of people in southern Mexico, where indigenous roots are more prevalent. This holds particular significance for me as it aligns with my own sense of identity rooted in Oaxaca. Growing up and believing in Oaxaca, I entered the world of fashion and portrait photography at the age of 23. At that time, these faces were notably absent from magazines, advertising, and screens. Photographing these individuals, from models to male and female artisans, becomes a way to honor their history, heritage, and, most importantly, their inner and external beauty. I encourage fellow artists to observe their surroundings, capturing the stories, struggles, and dreams of those they resonate with. By delving into our own experiences, we have the power to transform perspectives and bring to light thousands of untold stories.
3. Your work is deeply connected to your place of origin, Mexico. What features and aspects do you aim to portray, especially the unexpected ones that deviate from stereotypical images of the country and its culture?
I always describe my work as a deep nostalgia for my past and the way I grew up in Oaxaca, surrounded by my grandmothers since I was a child. Since I was a child I remember my paternal grandmother braiding her hair, or my maternal grandmother wearing her typical clothing with different embroidery and ornamentation. I remember my neighbours and the people who said hello when I went to the market or to the parties in the small towns of Oaxaca. When I started photographing for magazines and brands, what I wanted to represent was those textures, those colours, those faces and landscapes with which I developed. I am always trying to connect all my projects with specific elements of my culture, from the use of a braid, artisanal elements, and flowers from Oaxaca, to the use of spaces that remind me of the house where I lived or where my loved ones lived. That is why I always talk about this tribute to my people and the way to honour my past and my stories through portraiture and fashion.
4. Is there an upcoming project you are working on?
I am preparing a big project with 2 amazing Mexican photographers that have fought for the equality and representation of brown and indigenous people and we want to join forces to tell the world that our stories need to be told by ourselves.
