This October, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art will introduce visitors to the photographs of major artists in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Cuba through its new exhibition Looking In, Looking Out: Latin American Photography. The 47 works that comprise the exhibition, pulled from the museum’s permanent collection, were chosen to reflect the unique and varied history of Latin American countries and their respective cultures. The photos highlight the differences in landscapes between these countries, as well as the societal changes that have taken place over the past century. Karen Sinsheimer, the museum’s curator of photography, finished organizing this exhibition shortly before her passing in July of this year.
The subject matter of the pictures in the exhibition varies widely, with everything from internal conflict to indigenous populations. Looking Out, Looking In is not meant to be a comprehensive look at life in these countries, but rather a glance into the daily lives of people living in Latin America. All of the photographs will be on view to the public for the first time.
Some of the biggest names in Latin American photography, such as Raul Corrales and Alberto Korda, are represented. The two photographers documented the underlying humanity of the Cuban revolution. One of Corrales’ most famous photos depicts soldiers in white hats standing in Havana with their faces blocked, an image that represents the unity of the Cuban people. Another Cuban artist included in the exhibition is Mario Algaze, who attempted to capture cultural experiences that reminded him of his homeland after he was exiled from Cuba in the 1960s. His photographs have been celebrated for documenting some of the most beautiful social customs of Guatemala, Argentina, and Costa Rica.
A few other highlights of the exhibition include Alejandro Cartagena, who explores urban growth and development in Mexico; Luis Gonzalez Palma, who calls into question the historic characterization of native Guatemalans; and Eniac Martinez, who documented the migration of the Mixtec people from Oaxaca to the United States.
Looking In, Looking Out, which opens on October 18, will continue until February 2016.