Recently I visited The International Center of Photography,a museum, school and research center in midtown Manhattan. The current exhibition was dedicated to the work of photographers from Chile, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Mexico and other countries in Latin America.The exhibition “Urbes Mutantes” (“Mutant Cities”) covers the period between 1950’s-1980’s and contains political and social upheavals that occurred in the countries of Latin America during these decades. These photographs reflected political protest and poverty, which intertwined in the pictures as one. Streets of the cities serve as an arena for the revolution, protest and street culture.
Black and white photographs of Latin American cities immerse the audience sad reality of that time and makes them an involuntary participant in the struggle for life and liberty.Images show people as if they are accustomed to the atmosphere of chaos that surrounds them. Shots, protests, murders and arrests were common part of everyday life of Latin America population in 1950’s-1980’s and that precisely reflected on the photos.
Moreover, urban art involved pieces of the protest that depicted on the photography, such as pistols, and displays that turns out to be part of the street art. As a demonstration of participation in the revolutionary protests people depicted images that related to it.
In general this exhibition impressed me with its vivid images that denuded the truth about the political and social environment in Latin American countries. it served as sort of documental-historical piece of art. White and black pictures enriched the exhibition by enabling to demonstrate daily life without embellishment and immerse audience in the experience of chaos.