Image courtesy el Museo del Barrio

Curated by Pablo Ortíz Monasterio

New York, NY March 2005 – El Museo del Barrio, New York’s premier Latino and Latin American cultural institution, is pleased to announce the opening of Mexico: The Revolution and Beyond. Photographs by Casasola 1900 - 1940. This remarkable exhibition will be on view from April 13 through July 31, 2005. One of Latin America’s first photojournalists, Agustín Victor Casasola documented the tumultuous events of the early twentieth century in a style that ranged from the celebratory to the unforgettably tragic. The exhibition of 92 selected photographs, culled from the nearly 500,000-image archive, which is part of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia in Mexico, (INAH); was organized by leading Mexican photography specialist and well-known photographer Pablo Ortiz Monasterio.

The images presented in the exhibition document the history of a nation in the midst of transformation. As it entered a new era, Mexico sought to rid itself of a socially repressive regime. Photographers looked at the people in a celebratory way by focusing on figures of prominence as well as everyday citizens. The themes of revolution, work, modernity, and urban life are captured in images that record an epoch full of drama and hope. The work of the Casasola photographers included in the archives is rich in historic content but also hints at the great power of the medium in shaping the way that history is viewed and perceived.

Focusing on eight distinct themes, the exhibition reveals Casasola’s compelling choices, technical expertise, and extraordinary drive to document his country during one of its critical periods.

About the artist

Agustín Victor Casasola was born in Mexico City in 1874, began working in typographic workshops at an early age, and was working as a reporter by the age of twenty. At the turn of the century he had established himself as a photographer. In 1912, he opened one of the first professional photography agencies in partnership with his brother Miguel; later his children and grandchildren joined the partnership. Casasola’s motto for the company was, “I have or can produce the photo you need.” The agency helped Casasola realize his lifelong obsession: the creation of a photographic archive that recorded the history of Mexico as it unfolded.

Catalogue

A 220-page book accompanies the exhibition and includes additional images. Featured in the publication are essays by Pete Hamill, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Sergio Raúl Arroyo, and Rosa Casanova. The English version is published by APERTURE in cooperation with CONACULTA (Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes) and INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia); the Spanish language edition is available from Turner.

The exhibition has been organized by Canopia and Turner in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) and Pachuca National Photography Library (Fototeca Nacional de Pachuca, Mexico).

The major sponsor of this exhibition is Grupo Televisa. Additional support is provided by Jose Cuervo.