Tultepec: Toros de Fuego

Why do I return every year to the fire in Tultepec, México? Like many things in my life, I didn’t choose this tradition—it found me.

Known as the pyrotechnics capital of México, Tultepec is a town where generations of artisans have crafted spectacular fireworks displays, including the monumental toros de fuego—papier-mâché bulls laden with thousands of fireworks—only to burn them during the annual feast of St. John of God (March 8), whom the artisans have adopted as their patron saint. This ecstatic ritual of renewal and celebration temporarily takes over the town, even as modern urban expansion and nearby infrastructure developments reshape the region where pyrotechnics long sustained the community.

Since 2019, I have immersed myself in this once-remote town in the far outskirts of Mexico City’s metropolitan area, using my lens to capture the ephemeral geometries contained within each explosion and the visceral reactions of participants dancing within the flames.

My images do not merely document a volatile street festival; they transform it into a canvas of mythic struggle, shared resilience, and communal triumph. These photographs form an archive of smoke and light, honoring the fierce pride and enduring spirit of a community that steps into the fire to celebrate its legacy.

The photography and video shown in this exhibit are part of a larger documentary project I hope to finish in the near future. If you wish to contribute to that effort, please purchase one of these photographs or donate via the QR code below.

These images below are the extra ones that could be used if needed.