“Obsidiana” magazine. 003 Antonia Valentina and 004 Colette Urbajtel

Obsidiana magazine presented it’s issues 003 (Antonia Valentina) and 004 (Colette Urbajtel) on December 6, 2025 at Casa MAB.

Invitación para la presentación de la Revista “Obsidiana”

“Obsidiana” Magazine
Mirror and weapond of the photographic vision

Obsidian—that volcanic rock with a dark sheen and a razor-sharp edge—has since ancient times been a symbol of duality: a mirror that reveals hidden truths and a weapon that cuts with precision and purpose. Choosing its name for a photography magazine is no coincidence; it is a tribute to its ability to encapsulate the very essence of this art form, which is both contemplative and transformative.

In Mesoamerican cultures, obsidian was used as a mirror. Carefully polished, it allowed one to see beyond the surface and delve into the soul of whoever was reflected in it. In a similar way, photography functions as a mirror of the world. Each image captures a fraction of reality, but also projects an interpretation—a dialogue between the photographer and their surroundings. A camera, like obsidian, is a tool for revealing the invisible, for reflecting on what seems evident and reinterpreting it.

But obsidian was not only a mirror; it was also a sharpened weapon, a tool for survival. Its cutting edges were used to build, defend, and transform. Likewise, photography, beyond observing and reflecting, has the power to cut—to question established structures and open new possibilities. An image can wound, challenge, or heal. It can be an act of resistance or an invitation to deep contemplation.

Obsidiana magazine seeks to encapsulate this duality. Each photograph published is a fragment that reflects the world as it is, but also as it could be. The photographers who contribute to its pages are like ancient obsidian carvers: they refine their vision to polish images that reveal the hidden, while at the same time using photography as a weapon to sculpt life, break paradigms, and confront truths.

In a world where superficiality abounds, Obsidiana rises as a space for reflection and action—for looking beyond the obvious and embracing the idea that every photograph is a blade capable of changing our perception. Like obsidian itself, it is dark, mysterious, and sharp—a reminder that artistic vision does not merely observe, but also transforms.