A new artistic project called Portal Maya is being installed in Tulum as part of this year’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Conceived by architect Pablo Iván Flores Vera, author and builder of the project, and architect Karla Lisely Ramos, director of Orquídeas Vivero y Paisajismo, the initiative blends ancestral Mayan elements with the spirit of Hanal Pixán, creating an immersive experience that connects visitors with the region’s cultural roots while introducing a bold aesthetic approach.
According to its creators, the project has been in development since 2022, which explains its current success. The structure departs from the traditional altar format. Designed by RI.ESTUDIO ARQUITECTURA, a studio recognized with several national awards in architecture and urbanism, and executed in collaboration with Orquídeas Vivero y Paisajismo, a company that has landscaped many of Tulum’s main attractions and residential spaces, the installation is built with electrowelded mesh, local wood, and palm. It merges architectural stability with the textures of the Riviera Maya environment. At night, integrated LED lighting transforms the piece into a luminous corridor of color and shadow, inviting passersby to explore and reflect.
“It’s not just a structure, it’s an invitation to walk through memory,” said architect Karla Lisely Ramos.
An interactive space where tradition meets modern art
Inside the Portal Maya, visitors encounter catrinas and mirrors strategically placed to encourage interaction and photography. The reflective surfaces multiply the effects of light and color, allowing spectators to see themselves within the artwork, an intentional design that bridges personal memory with collective ritual.
The creators describe the project as “a visual dialogue” that allows people to participate actively in the Day of the Dead rather than simply observe it. The immersive layout encourages movement and curiosity, blending performance, architecture, and symbolism in a shared public space.
The scent and color of cempasúchil define the atmosphere
No Day of the Dead celebration would be complete without cempasúchil, the bright orange marigold that has guided spirits in Mexican tradition for centuries. In Portal Maya, both natural and artificial marigolds are used to ensure their presence throughout the festivities.
“The aroma is memory,” explained Karla Ramos, emphasizing that the use of fresh flowers connects visitors emotionally with their ancestors. Additional green vegetation frames the structure, adding depth and presence. By combining local flora with innovative design, the installation pays tribute to Quintana Roo’s natural environment while embracing contemporary artistic practices.
Collaboration between art and local enterprise
Portal Maya exemplifies a collaboration between architectural creativity and local entrepreneurship. The partnership between RI.ESTUDIO ARQUITECTURA and Orquídeas Vivero y Paisajismo represents a growing dialogue between design and community participation in Tulum’s evolving cultural scene.
Organizers describe the installation as “an act of renewal,” an effort to reinterpret the aesthetics of remembrance without erasing tradition. The piece also highlights a broader movement among local artists and entrepreneurs to reclaim public spaces for cultural expression, a theme increasingly significant across the Riviera Maya.
Cultural innovation at the heart of Tulum’s identity
Tulum has long attracted artists who merge environmental awareness with creative experimentation. The Portal Maya project continues that legacy by transforming a moment of remembrance into an open, participatory experience.
For locals, it serves as a reminder that innovation and heritage can coexist. For visitors, it offers an encounter with Mexico’s ancestral worldview, reframed through light, texture, and motion.
As The Tulum Times has previously reported, the municipality is positioning itself as a regional reference for public art and immersive installations that connect tourism with identity. Portal Maya fits perfectly within that vision, bridging the sacred and the contemporary, the individual and the collective.
A celebration of memory, light, and connection
The Portal Maya installation will remain open throughout the Día de Muertos festivities, inviting both residents and tourists to engage with its architecture of remembrance. Beyond its aesthetic impact, the project reflects a growing trend: the use of art to reclaim the meaning of public space and reinterpret Mexico’s enduring rituals for new generations.
If successful, it could become a seasonal landmark, a symbolic portal between worlds, much like the festival it honors.
The Portal Maya installation embodies the coexistence of innovation and tradition in Tulum’s cultural life.
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What other traditions in the Riviera Maya do you think could inspire contemporary art projects like this one?