PhotoEspaña, the leading photography festival in Spain, has commenced in Madrid with additional showcases in various cities including Barcelona, Santander, and Zaragoza. The main festivities are taking place in Madrid, hosting over 80 exhibitions of both modern and historical photography displayed in unique locations like the Royal Palace grounds, the Prado Museum, a decommissioned water tower, and an ancient sawmill.
Nosce te Ipsum (Know Thyself), featured at the National Museum of Anthropology, presents the creations of Ayana V Jackson, an African American photographer and filmmaker. Jackson’s artistry involves the innovative use of archival materials and documents.
Her debut European exhibition includes clever reinterpretations of historical images, such as her reimagined portraits of 19th-century Black equestriennes in her series “You Forgot to See Me Coming.” These works creatively revisit the visual histories of colonialism and the African diaspora. Her series on Adelitas, inspired by Adela Velarde, the celebrated nurse of the Mexican Revolution, highlights the contributions of women of African descent during these tumultuous times.
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Journalists Gathered in Search of Information During a Closed-Door Meeting of the UCD Political Council. Madrid, 1982. Photograph: Marisa Flórez.
The extensive career of Spanish photojournalist Marisa Flórez is being celebrated at Sala Canal de Isabel II. Flórez, who has worked with prominent publications like Informaciones and El País, captured key moments in politics, entertainment, art, and culture throughout the transformative post-Franco era, a time traditionally dominated by men.
She was present to document significant events such as the enactment of Spain’s new constitution, the return of Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica” to Spain, the Eta years’ terrorist activities, and the surge in permitted public protests. Her lens also captured Margaret Thatcher inaugurating a Marks & Spencer store.
Flórez’s photographs not only chronicle these events but also symbolize a cultural shift within Spain. “During this time, we saw the emergence of women in all areas of society, a stark contrast to earlier when women were mostly confined to domestic roles. There was a mother, a daughter, a wife, but now, women are everywhere,” she explained.
An exploration of landscape photography by José Guerrero at Fundación Mapfre demonstrates his deep and thoughtful examination of the genre’s sociopolitical and, more recently, formal aspects.
Guerrero has shown an interest in landscapes showing signs of change and transition. He is also attracted to iconic landscapes, “places we recognize through other forms of representation, be it paintings, other photographs, or films,” he said.
He shared, “I have worked in the American US with references to western movies. I have worked in La Mancha, I have worked on the River Thames.”
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