Centro de la imagen's collection
Learn about the history of how the photographic, bibliographic, and documentary collection housed by the Centro de la Imagen began and how it is currently structured.
Photo of the team of collaborators of the Centro de la Imagen (1989) by Luis Alberto González CansecoImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Mexican Council of Photography
In 1978, the Mexican Council of Photography was established as a civil association of photographers with the aim of making photography more visible and promoting it in our country.
How did the Mexican Council of Photography emerge?
This initiative was led by Pedro Meyer, with the collaboration of Lázaro Blanco, Raquel Tibol, Aníbal Angulo, Julieta Giménez Cacho, Rodrigo Moya, Jesús Sánchez Uribe, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Felipe Ehrenberg, Eugenia Meyer, among many others.
First Photography Colloquium (2024) by Archivo documental del Centro de la ImagenImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Photography Colloquium: An Unprecedented Event
The Latin American Photography Colloquiums, events that paved the way for the analysis of Latin American photography, were made up of works received through a call for submissions, as well as a series of activities for dialogue with photographers, historians, and researchers.
Photography Colloquia Catalogs (2024) by Alfonso NavarreteImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
The idea of collection
With the aim of promoting photographic activity and analyzing Latin American work, the call for these Colloquiums offered the opportunity to donate the submitted photographs in order to create a permanent collection of those works.
An initiative that is still alive
At the initiative of photographer José Luis Neyra, the CMF integrated an important bibliographic and documentary collection, consisting of photographic books, exhibition catalogs, invitations, magazines, and documents generated by the Council itself.
Closure of the House of Photography
After more than a decade of significant efforts in support of photography, the MCP lost its headquarters on May 19, 1989. Its photographic collection, library, and documentary archive were left on the street along with the furniture.
Photo of the eviction of the Consejo Mexicano de Fotografía (1989) by Archivo documental del Centro de la ImagenImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Distribution of the photographic and bibliographic archive
With the loss of its headquarters, the MCP was forced to distribute these archives among its members and store them until a new suitable space for their preservation could be found.
An agreement for the preservation of the collection
Patricia Mendoza, CI director, requested a loan of the MCP's library and documentary archive in exchange for safeguarding, cataloging, and preserving these important materials.
A place for all perspectives
Since then, the CI has preserved a collection of great historical value due to its diversity of themes, materialities, experimental, documentary, and photojournalistic perspectives, from both long-established and mid-career creators, both nationally and internationally.
Library of Centro de la Imagen (2024) by Elic HerreraImage Center - Ministry of Culture of Mexico
Discover more details in our podcast!
Listen to the voices of the people who participated in its founding and contributed to the organization of its work throughout these three decades: Listen here.
Raquel Miguel Soto, Alfonso Navarrete and Alejandro Zepeda Hidalgo
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