’Chasing the unknown on the scale of a continent.’ This was the enormity of the task of compiling The Latin American Photobook, according to Horacio Fernández (art historian and author of Fotografia Publica). Heading into uncharted territory, Fernández pulled together an advisory committee of photographers including Marcelo Brodsky, Iatã Cannabrava, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio and Martin Parr, and spent four years criss-crossing South and Central America before anthologising the best of their photobooks.
Such a book is worthy of an exhibition. Curated by Fernández, ’Revelations: History of the Photobook in Latin America’ at Ivorypress in Madrid (until 14 July), gives visitors the chance to examine each of the 150 titles, learn about the photographers, as well as explore Latin American history and culture through their eyes. Books are arranged by topics including: America before America, History and Propaganda, Urban Photography, Photo Essays, Artist’s Book, Photography and Literature and Contemporary Photography.
To supplement the titles, there are videos, early and modern prints, a large-format photo grid and exploded layouts featuring works from the likes of Claudia Andujar, Barbara Brändli, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Horacio Coppola, and Boris Kossoy.
In terms of Latin American photography, this is as comprehensive as it gets. If you can’t make it in Madrid, the exhibition will tour to the Aperture Foundation (New York) and Instituto Moreira Salles (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo).
