The Faces of Tulum is a portrait and oral history project documenting elders and members of Tulum's original Mayan community through hyperrealistic oil paintings and recorded interviews.
For more than two years, I have been working with families whose histories are closely connected to the development of modern Tulum. Through conversations, interviews and portrait sittings, the project documents personal memories of life before tourism transformed the town: raising families, surviving hurricanes, living without roads or electricity, and witnessing decades of extraordinary change.
The project will culminate in a series of 20 highly detailed oil portraits and a companion book bringing together the interviews and historical research which will be on display at the Museo Regional de la Costa Oriental in Tulum.
As the town continues to grow, many of these stories remain undocumented despite being an important part of Tulum's history. The project seeks to preserve both the faces and the voices of the people who have shaped the community, creating a lasting record for future generations.
The project is entirely self-funded and is currently in progress. If you would like to learn more about The Faces of Tulum or support its completion, you can visit the crowdfunding campaign using the link above.