Unveiling the Intriguing 2025 Chaya Encantadora Calendar

The 2025 edition of the Chaya Encantadora calendar brings to light the significance of the Chaya plant through the perspectives of six photographers, an illustrator, two scientists, and the testimonies of nine women. This edition builds on the unrestricted, multidisciplinary approach of the inaugural 2024 edition, which explored a variety of artistic expressions, from photography to artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on culinary uses.

The 2025 edition focuses on portraits of women from Yucatán who have personal experiences with the Chaya plant, a staple in the Mayan diet and worldview. Photographers Haizel de la Cruz, Mercy Portillo, Claudia Novelo Alpuche, Carolina Ponce Madrigal, Gen Gibler, and Ivonne Arceo have captured these women's stories. Their work is complemented by the contributions of plant scientists María Virginia Solís Montero and Jazmín Araceli López Herrejón, who have provided text imbued with a unique poetic flair.

Mariana Pineyro's detailed illustrations and designs enhance the calendar, and the Terrestrial Ecology Laboratory from Cinvestav provides scientific consultation. The calendar's launch featured a discussion on the creative process with Claudia Novelo Alpuche, Mar Piñeyro, María Virginia Solís Montero, Mercy Portillo, and Jazmín Araceli López Herrejón at the Cinvestav Mérida unit on December 3rd.

The calendar's website not only shares the stories of the women portrayed but also the photographers' experiences and discoveries as they engaged with these women's life stories. The Chaya Encantadora website is designed to be an interactive space, encouraging dialogue and allowing the concept of the calendar to evolve with user participation.