Valentín

Valentín asks what is love and what is its purpose. The book seeks to challenge accepted ideas about how love is experienced, with the stereotype that romantic love is the most important in our lives. When having or not a partner does not define you. The book seeks to inspire you to recognize love in the many other aspects of your life and that there are people who both care and love you without having to be romantically involved. We can rely on the love of our communities, our friends, family and pets to feel fulfilled and happy.

On February 14, 2018, I put a mini set with a pink transparent backdrop, at the “Monument to the Revolution” in Mexico City. Anyone was welcomed to be photographed, the only request is that they share what love is for them. Some answers moved me, like Antonio's, who knows very well that if you don't love yourself, you would not be able to love another person. Or Mayela’s, who recognizes that it is the most important feeling for a human being. I wanted to know other opinions and what the youth of the city left me was hopeful. Listen from other voices that affective bonds with your friends, family, partner, can be created that are beautiful, sincere and real.

However, I think there is enormous pressure to have romantic love, especially on women. If you're not with someone, it can be annoying to hear over and over again: do you have a boyfriend? I would like to change that, and that having a partner, boyfriend, crush, suitor, is not a consequence of social pressure, but a free and healthy decision that fills you with joy and happiness. Finally, having or not a partner, does not define you as a person. The people who photographed me inspired me to recognize love in other aspects of my life, and that there are people around me who love me and care about me, without having to be romantically involved.

Because you do not need a partner to be complete, you are already an absolute and beautiful being. Romantic love is not the only force that governs our lives, love is finding happiness in community. A group of friends reminds you that sharing laughter together is an act of love. Two sisters embraced become a testimony of sorority around love. I have faith that love can change the world, care for the happiness of others and support your family when they need it.

If we focus on loving the people around us, we can create more human and sincere relationships with others. We may not be able to find a consensus of what love is, but we can define what it is not: violent, domineering or manipulative, too many dishonourable acts have been justified in its name. On the contrary, if based on the definitions that the portrayed people shared with us, we choose to build a family project through love, write a novel, a song, adventure together, share a meal or have a project as a couple, it may be one of the ways purer and more beautiful to express it. Love has many meanings in our lives.

The book is in Spanish with an English translation and you can buy a copy here