Monday, May 11, 2009

Graciela Iturbide . . .

The discussion about dolls in two posts below sparked a comment from Catherine in Mexico City about a site there where hundreds of old dolls in all possible states of decomposition decorate an island in a canal network. . . The Island of Dolls. A couple of videos on YouTube show scenes from that bizarre open air doll cemetery, where the dolls are considered spirits, which in case you missed it below, you can see here. A second video also shows more footage (or dollage?) from this strange place. . . if you want some weird doll inspired shivers, well, take a gander.
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Catherine also asked if I was interested in the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations, which I am, though I've never been there to see first hand. All of that reminded of the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, who I've admired for years, ever since a book of her incredibly powerful photographs found its way to my collection. Graciela Iturbide's photographs are haunting in a manner I've experienced with no other artist. They are trance inspiring, hypnotic, it is clear she has entered the spirit world along with her subject matter to produce her magical images.
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Some of her work is visible on the Getty Museum website. The Amber Online site also shows a small but well presented collection of Graciela's photographs. I will share the cover of the book I have, Images of the Spirit, and the frontispiece, just to give you a little glimpse, to crack open the door to the dream world of her photos. . . and hopefully to encourage you to head out and buy a copy (this book is available on Amazon for a mere 20 USD) . . . artists need to eat too. . .
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5 comments:

The Sagittarian said...

I see what you mean, there, Owen...very haunting indeed. She certainly has captured spirity stuff and I wouldn't have a ghost of a chance to mimic her talent! Mind you, wouldn't be seen dead in that wedding dress either!!

Catherine said...

Wow I have heard of Iturbitude but haven't seen her work.. thanks for introducing her to me.. I will certainly investigate more. I also hadn't realised that the island of Dolls had made Youtube... It is well known here in Mexico City but hadn't realised it was up on the Net... I will look forward to checking it all out... You are certainly a very prolific blogger!! Thanks for the mention on your blog... much appreciated. Lastly I do have some stuff on the Day of the Dead posted under "Festivals" but it is not the best and I do have some better stuff that I should get round to posting. Finally those dolls at the jumble sale.. what a freaky collection!! They rate high in spookiness for me alongside clowns and ventriloquists' dummies... what is that awful black and white film where the dummy comes alive... it used to haunt me as a child!! Anyway it has been a pleasure finding your blog this weekend and I have put it on my list so that I can try and kepp tabs on your prolific postings!! Greetings from MexicoCity...

Catherine said...

ps sorry about the mispelling of Iturbide in my last comment, but also wanted to swap an artist with you... one of my favourite Day of the Dead artists here is MARGARITA FICK.. I do have a post on her under "Local Artists" but photos don't do justice to her exquisitely complex black paper cuts of catrina skeleton figures.. since the post I have bought 3 huge ones...hope you like her work..

Owen said...

Ah Sagit... I see you are infected now ! Have you checked your temperature today??? Feeling a little ghoulish??? Well, make no bones about it, this punning has to stop !!! ;-D

Catherine, many thx, will take a look for Mararita Flick when I have a minute... and at you posts... glad to see this stuff is resonating with people, that's the purpose I guess of blogging -- finding fellow resonance out there with people one would never have come across otherwise...

Leila Marvel said...

Wow I am blown away by these photographs, I checked out more online, thank you for sharing.