CHILPANCINGO.- The Regional Museum of Guerrero is celebrating the rich tapestry of human culture with a captivating new photography exhibition, "Three Cameras, Three Moments: One Theme." The exhibit, which runs until April 27, 2025, offers a unique glimpse into the lives of people from Guerrero and around the globe, spanning across generations.
This special exhibition commemorates the 86th anniversary of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), highlighting the museum's vital role in preserving and sharing the region's cultural heritage. It's a collaborative effort, bringing together the expertise of the museum, led by director Maura Liliana Ortiz Carrasco, and the Autonomous University of Guerrero.
At the heart of the exhibition lies the work of artist and professor Ricardo Infante Padilla. A passionate documentarian and storyteller, Infante has curated a selection of photographs from his personal collection, weaving together a narrative of cultural evolution. "In our country," Infante Padilla reflects, "indigenous people have been denied their own history." This exhibition serves as a powerful counter-narrative, reclaiming and celebrating the memories and traditions of Guerrero's diverse communities.
The exhibit is structured around three distinct photographic perspectives. Two of these perspectives focus on Guerrero itself, separated by half a century. Visitors can see images captured by the pioneering Mexican anthropologist Anita Brenner in the 1920s, offering a window into a world that, in some ways, feels like a distant past. These images, bequeathed to Infante Padilla by Brenner's daughter, Susannah Glusker, capture the essence of life in the mountains and valleys of Guerrero, including Chilapa, Tixtla, Zitlala, and Taxco el Viejo.
Juxtaposed against Brenner's historical lens are Infante Padilla's own photographs, taken between 1965 and 1972. These images document a Guerrero in transition, capturing communities grappling with modernization and social change. Infante Padilla's lens focuses on the everyday – the Nahuatl spoken in Xalitla, the communal work of tequio, the artistry of amate paper and pottery. He and his colleagues sought to preserve these traditions, knowing that the world they were documenting was on the cusp of transformation. "We observed that in some places," Infante Padilla recalls, "the money sent back by braceros was being used to build brick houses, replacing the traditional adobe and wattle homes." The construction of the Acapulco highway, beginning in 1989, would further accelerate these changes.
The third perspective broadens the scope, showcasing the world beyond Guerrero. Over 60 original microphotographs from the early 20th-century series “Peculiarities of the World” offer a fascinating glimpse into diverse cultures from the Philippines to El Salvador, China to Belgium. These images, originally distributed as collectibles by the Susini cigarette company, capture the "peculiarities" of ethnic groups, leaders (including a portrait of Mexican President Porfirio Díaz), and military figures. It's a fascinating time capsule of a world on the brink of dramatic change, a world that would soon be engulfed by World War I, which, incidentally, led to the discontinuation of the cigarette card series.
"Three Cameras, Three Moments: One Theme" isn't just a collection of photographs; it's a conversation across time and cultures. It's an invitation to reflect on the beauty and fragility of tradition, the impact of change, and the enduring power of the human spirit. The exhibition is free and open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, at the Guerrero Regional Museum, located in the heart of Chilpancingo. It's an experience not to be missed, especially as 2025 has been declared the Year of the Indigenous Woman, adding another layer of significance to this powerful exhibition.
