Pablo Ortiz Monasterio is an internationally successful contemporary photographer. Born in Mexico City in 1952, much of his work deals with the culture of his homeland, ranging from indigenous lore to current events. An early, decisive influence was French street photographer Bernard Plossu, who had created photos in Mexico (among many other countries). Monasterio is considered one of Mexico’s preeminent art photographers.
I was introduced to Monasterio’s work through his 2016 book, Desaparecen? (They’re missing?), which confronts the Ayotzinapa College mass kidnapping of a few years previous (2014).
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| Desaparecen? (cover) (2016) |
In this event, 43 student protesters were taken, turned over to a local crime syndicate, and presumed killed, possibly with the assistance of Mexican Federal Police. The kidnapping ignited nationwide protests and international scandal.
The book is a sociopolitical work bravely, in my opinion, and unapologetically addressing / elegizing the disappearance of these students. Looking through the pages, we can sense Monasterio’s pain and righteous anger through his masterful photography and layouts. Along with relevant phrases, each page contains the number 43 on it, and the book opens and closes with the “missing person” portraits of each student. In this way, he begs us to remember what happened.
There’s a further detail that I thought was both touching and subversive. The book was created in two editions, one as a typical art-world monograph, finely printed and bound; and one for $12, stapled and printed on inexpensive matte paper, so that it could be appreciated locally in the community where the students were kidnapped.
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| Desaparecen? (2016) |
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| Desaparecen? (2016) |
We saw some of this work when we were in Mexico in 2016. The amount of street art and reference to the 43 was pretty powerful. Great pick Burk.
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