Dreamy, intimate portraits of the LGBTQ creatives energizing Mexico Citys art and design culture
Through her reportage, fashion and portrait work, Israeli Moroccan photographer Mayan Toledano shares the stories of her queer community, exploring their interior lives with empathy and respect. Characterized by their colorful dreaminess, her portraits often capture her young subjects in their bedrooms. Although Toledano is based in New York, she has found herself increasingly drawn to Mexico City, a place she considers a creative safe haven. No Mames pays tribute to the local LGBTQ artists, designers and creatives who are currently contributing to Mexican culturemany of whom are couples, roommates or childhood friends. The series portraiture follows a twofold process: first, she captures her subjects as they present themselves in everyday life; then, she photographs them as they would like to appear, facilitating the construction of their fantasy selves. This collaborative act of wish fulfilment sometimes coincides with real-life transformations: for instance, she follows one of her subjects, Havi, over the course of her gender transition, during which she underwent breast augmentation surgery. From reportage to fashion to portraiture, the work of photographer Mayan Toledano is characterized by a strong sense of humanity, empathy, femininity and rebellion. Whether created in New York City or Mexico City, Toledanos photography often concerns the interior lives of young peopleexistences that notably revolve around the bedroom. "Your bedroom is the first place that is your own and private, and its your first place to be creative," Toledano has written. "Theres something really vulnerable about letting people into your space and we created these personal images of people being and becoming an authentic version of themselves, all done in collaboration." Toledanos work has been featured in i-D, Vogue, W Magazine, Teen Vogue, Them and the New York Times, among other publications.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
Vogue
Chloe Schama
Her goal is to capture her subjects as they are. But that doesnt mean there isnt also celebration and artifice. The title phrase no mames is an exclamation of disbelief and appreciationkind of like a cheeky, Wow, oh, my God!
Hyperallergic
Lakshmi Amin
Immortalizing queer Mexican artists in places they can fully call their own, Toledano offers a vision of the world through a radical lens of play and unmistakable tenderness that perfectly embodies the books title.
i-D
E.R. Pulgar
A well-deserved spotlight on the real culturemakers of a fast-growing global city.
Guardian
Sarah Gilbert
Her empathetic portraits revolve around access to their private spaces.
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Tuesday, November 7, from 6 to 8 PM, Rizzoli Bookstore in New York will host photographer Mayan Toledano in conversation with Erin Magee to celebrate the launch of Toledano's new book No Mames, featuring dreamy, intimate portraits of the LGBTQ creatives energizing Mexico Citys art and design culture. Published by Damiani Books. RSVPs are encouraged but not required. Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Book your seat at Eventbrite. continue to blog
Seb and Sebastian (2022) is reproduced from Mayan Toledano: No Mames, the rising NYC-based photographers new, critically-acclaimed portrait collection centered around Mexico Citys young queer and trans underground. In the closing text, Toledano quotes one of her subjects, Aine Marin. To all my sisters that died fighting for our rights, for our spirits to be free and for us to be able to inhabit our full selves. To my guardians. Im writing to you here, knowing that, like me, there are others who since their youth have felt drawn to transition in spirit or in body. Trans children exist, we challenge and transform established canons to reach those who want to understand their place in the cosmos through a new perspective. I understand that every person contains a universe of particular needs, chaos and harmony. continue to blog
Seb and Sebastian (2022) is reproduced from Mayan Toledano: No Mames, the rising NYC-based photographers new, critically-acclaimed portrait collection centered around Mexico Citys young queer and trans underground. In the closing text, Toledano quotes one of her subjects, Aine Marin. To all my sisters that died fighting for our rights, for our spirits to be free and for us to be able to inhabit our full selves. To my guardians. Im writing to you here, knowing that, like me, there are others who since their youth have felt drawn to transition in spirit or in body. Trans children exist, we challenge and transform established canons to reach those who want to understand their place in the cosmos through a new perspective. I understand that every person contains a universe of particular needs, chaos and harmony. continue to blog
FORMAT: Hbk, 11 x 9.5 in. / 200 pgs / 90 color. LIST PRICE: U.S. $55.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $79 ISBN: 9788862087919 PUBLISHER: Damiani AVAILABLE: 10/17/2023 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA LA
Dreamy, intimate portraits of the LGBTQ creatives energizing Mexico Citys art and design culture
Through her reportage, fashion and portrait work, Israeli Moroccan photographer Mayan Toledano shares the stories of her queer community, exploring their interior lives with empathy and respect. Characterized by their colorful dreaminess, her portraits often capture her young subjects in their bedrooms.
Although Toledano is based in New York, she has found herself increasingly drawn to Mexico City, a place she considers a creative safe haven. No Mames pays tribute to the local LGBTQ artists, designers and creatives who are currently contributing to Mexican culturemany of whom are couples, roommates or childhood friends. The series portraiture follows a twofold process: first, she captures her subjects as they present themselves in everyday life; then, she photographs them as they would like to appear, facilitating the construction of their fantasy selves. This collaborative act of wish fulfilment sometimes coincides with real-life transformations: for instance, she follows one of her subjects, Havi, over the course of her gender transition, during which she underwent breast augmentation surgery.
From reportage to fashion to portraiture, the work of photographer Mayan Toledano is characterized by a strong sense of humanity, empathy, femininity and rebellion. Whether created in New York City or Mexico City, Toledanos photography often concerns the interior lives of young peopleexistences that notably revolve around the bedroom. "Your bedroom is the first place that is your own and private, and its your first place to be creative," Toledano has written. "Theres something really vulnerable about letting people into your space and we created these personal images of people being and becoming an authentic version of themselves, all done in collaboration." Toledanos work has been featured in i-D, Vogue, W Magazine, Teen Vogue, Them and the New York Times, among other publications.
