In Still Life

‘Fotografia Maroma’, a creative initiative by Belmond, captures the beauty and the culture of the Yucatán Peninsula for posterity.

The stunning landscape that Maroma, a Belmond Hotel, is a part of has always had a history of creative expression, largely due to the Riviera Maya’s visceral beauty and its culture. Contained within it is a deep understanding of the importance of storytelling and creative self-expression. Maroma, which is etched within the coastline of the Riviera Maya, is set for a relaunch in May 2023.

‘Fotografia Maroma’, a new exhibition timed to coincide with the resort’s reopening, is emblematic of Belmond’s longstanding commitment to the arts community. The initiative features the works of selected photographers, each of whom captures their personal visual interpretations that showcases Mexico’s identity in the past, present and future. Through this, they craft a series that acts as a visual portal to the Yucatán

Peninsula’s native culture and unforgettable natural world. The photographers selected by Belmond and the exhibition’s co-curators include Javier Hinojosa, Patricia Lagarde, and Ilán Rabchinskey, as well as emerging talent Margot Kalach, all of whom impart their distinctive visions and aesthetics on the timeless beauty that is the Riviera Maya.

Hinojosa, a photographer with more than 45 years of experience, is inspired by light manipulation and the often uncontrollable elements. His work centres on the Riviera Maya shoreline. Lagarde, on the other hand, dives into the blue-ish hues of the Caribbean sea; while Rabchinskey hones in on the meeting of land and sea, capturing moments of pure poetry seen in infinite horizons. Kalach, too, takes aim with works informed by her background and knowledge in history, art and science in relation to photography, to depict the forces of nature – both the sea and wind – vividly and powerfully.

The ‘Fotografia Maroma’ exhibition will be exhibited alongside some of the world’s most notable art fair events, starting from Art Basel Miami’s 20th edition, which ran in early December 2022. The photography series will then be shown at the Patricia Conde Galera for an extended residency, starting with ZONAMACO in Mexico City.

Maroma, from which the exhibition draws inspiration, will once again become the storied crown of the Riviera Maya. The luxury property is the first large-scale transformation of Belmond’s North America portfolio under LVMH ownership. Designer Tara Bernerd helms the hotel’s restoration, the results of which will feature 10 new waterfront suites, a wellness spa collaboration with Guerlain that connects with the ancient Mayans’ restorative and rejuvenative wisdom, headline-generating sustainability initiatives, and a thoughtful emphasis on cuisine. “Maroma offered a rare opportunity to reimagine this iconic hotel, with its rich and storied history,” Bernerd says. “We sought to retain and enhance the original character, working with local artisans while simultaneously incorporating a contemporary elegance and a warmth that also has a sense of home, all of which speaks to the needs of the Belmond guest for generations to come.”