A photography exhibition at Medellin’s Museum of Antioquia drew a huge crowd on its opening night Wednesday.
The event, “A History of Colombia through Photography 1842-2010,” was so popular that some latecomers were unable to enter the auditorium for the introductory presentation.
What followed was a compelling glance in to 160 years of Colombian life.
Museum Director Ana Piedad Jaramillo Restrepo said, “There are images here which have never been shown in Antioquia before.”
She added, “It is the first time that the history of Colombia has been traced through photos, it is like no other story told by a historian.”
Housed in two of the museum’s large gallery spaces, the display provides a chronological journey through almost 300 images.
As well as focusing upon historical periods, the exhibition explores social themes such as rural life, the church and Panama, which was part of Colombia until 1903.
The collection was pieced together by British historian Malcolm Deas and, with many photos taken from national and local archives, a lot of the photographers involved are unknown.
Among those credited are Henry Duperly, Benjamin de la Calle Muñoz, Erich Arenft and British anthropologist Thomas Whiffen, who documented the lives of native people at the turn of the twentieth century.
The event is sponsored by the Fundacion MAPFRE, which sponsors cultural events throughout the Spanish-speaking world, and Colombia’s Central Bank.
Fundacion MAPFRE Director General Daniel Restrepo Manrique said, “For us this event is fundamental and a priority for the work Fundacion MAFRE does.”
He added, “The basic idea is to make the history of Latin America relevant to everyone, an open history that reaches around the world. One of the ways to make it reach the world is through images.”
A History of Colombia through Photography 1842-2010 is free to enter and will be housed at the Museum of Antioquia until 19 March.
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