Honoring the Rebirth of Light: Panquetzaliztli

In my latest piece of photo art for my Our Lord of the Flowers project, Panquetzaliztli serves as a modern embodiment of the ancient Mexica festival of the same name. My work seeks to capture the raw power and triumphant spirit of the sun's rebirth during the Winter Solstice, through the context of my own quer body, and they way it connects to the characetrs of the novel. By centering the human form as a vessel for historical memory, this image honors the strength required to overcome the "darkness" of the year and transition into a season of growth and light. The pantyhose is very intentional. As I have written about in a previous post, pantyhose is able to reflect light off the body in a unique way that is both novel and fetishistic. For more explorations like this one, check out my Fall 2025 Photo Gallery.

What is Panquetzaliztli?

To understand the art, one must understand the history behind the "Raising of the Banners." This month-long festival from the times of the Aztecs reaches its climax on December 22nd, marking several key cultural milestones:

• The Birth of the Sun: It celebrates the birth of the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and the sun, at Mount Coatepec.
• Victory Over Darkness: The festival commemorates Huitzilopochtli’s defeat of his sister (the moon) and his 400 brothers (the stars), symbolizing light's triumph over night.
• Ritual and Community: Historically, the Mexica created images of the god out of tzoalli (amaranth and honey), which were shared among the people—a tradition of communal sustenance that mirrors the goal of OLF to share and preserve cultural beauty.

The Intersection of Myth and Modernity

My art photo  Panquetzaliztli is an invitation to witness this ancient rebirth of The Hummingbird on the Left (AKA Huitzilopochtli) through a modern lens of digital photography, queer storytelling and my Aztec multiverse. By honoring these historical and cultural foundations, Our Lord of the Flowers seeks to keep the flame of Mexica heritage alive, celebrating the resilience and beauty that bloom even in the coldest months.

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