The exhibition Foto/Gràfica, A new history of Latin-American photography books features, until April 8, 2012, 40 photographic books published between 1921 and 2012. According to Martin Parr, “the book of Latin American pictures is the best kept secret in the history of photography.” The exhibition, designed by curator Horacio Fernandez, historian and teacher at the Cuenca Applied Arts University in Madrid, presents original volumes in chronological order accompanied by vintage prints, projections, projects and quotes placing their publications in the context of photographic history. And in the context of their national histories undergoing revolutions attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals from around the world.

Horacio Fernandez kept that in mind when he separated the exhibition into six distinct sections: “History and Propaganda”, “Urban Photography”, “Photographic Essays”, “Artist’s books”, “Literature and Photography” and “Contemporary Books”. Fernandez comments in his book Les livres d'Amérique latine, announced in La Lettre in November 2011, the idea of looking for photographic books was born from the first Latin-American photography forum held in Sao Paulo in 2009. There it was noted that a history of 20th century books published across the continent was lacking. A vigorous investigation was launched in order to save works with uncontestable value. In three years, across 19 countries, from Cuba to Patagonia, photographers, graphic artists, collectors, researchers, and editors opened their libraries and archives… the result is surprising. Incisive, complex, troubling, forgotten, cursed or secret books were found. The pages reveal “something like a caress, a complaint, a call, complicity, bitter denunciation” (Julio Cortazar). That is the heart of this exhibition coproduced by the BAL / Ivory Press (Madrid – Spain) / Aperture Foundation (New York – USA) / Instituto Moreira Morales (Rio, Sao Paulo - Brazil) / Museo Del Libro y de la Lengua (Buenos-Aires – Argentine) with Le Bal hosting the first leg of this international program.

A movie cycle parallel to the exhibition in Paris with a program developed by Olivier Hadouchi about "Jolts and Explosions of Latin America" will take place until April 7; while the BAL LAB will offer meetings, debates, performances and conferences with, among others, Christian Caujolle on Wednesday, February 8 at 8pm, Susan Meiselas on February 15 at 8pm, and Martin Parr with Alexis Fabry (A New Generation of Photographers) on Wednesday March 28 at 8pm.

Bernard Perrine
Bernard.Perrine1@orange.fr

Foto/Gràfica
A New History of Latin American Photo Books
Until April 8, 2012

Le Bal
6, Impasse de la Défense
75018 Paris
+33 (0)1 44 70 75 50
Wednesday through Friday, 12-20h
Thursday until 10pm
Saturday, 11am-8pm
Sunday, 11am-7pm