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Lourdes Grobet

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Lourdes Grobet
Grobet in 2018
Born(1940-07-25)25 July 1940
Mexico City, Mexico
Died15 July 2022(2022-07-15) (aged 81)
Mexico City, Mexico
NationalityMexican
Known forMultimedia and Photography
MovementGrupos
Websitewww.lourdesgrobet.com

Lourdes Grobet Argüelles (25 July 1940 – 15 July 2022)[1] was a Mexican contemporary photographer, known for her photographs of Mexican lucha libre wrestlers.[2][3]

Grobet spent some time as a painter before focussing on photography.[4] Her photography led her to explore lucha libre and she spent a lot of time getting to know the luchadores (wrestlers). Grobet has done some theatre and video, and has published several books. Grobet has had quite a lot of exhibitions, and has received many grants and awards for her work.[5][6]

Early life

Grobet was born in Mexico City,[4] where she grew up with her parents. Grobet took a formal painting class at the Academy of San Carlos. Her parents did not like the views of the school and sent her to work under a Catholic professor named José Suárez Olvera, who painted murals for the Church of San Francisco.[1] She did not care for his work much because she felt it lacked originality. Grobet asked herself what art is, “Looking around, and after asking myself the inevitable questions about what art is, it became clear that for me it was a language, a way of saying things, and so I had to find the best way of saying them.”[7]

Education

Lourdes Grobet studied plastic arts at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico and graphic design and photography in Britain at Cardiff College of Art[4] and Derby College for Higher Education[citation needed]. She was very moved by her professor Mathias Goeritz, from whom she learned that mass media showed a new way of expression. When Goeritz gave up teaching, he asked Grobet to be his assistant while he worked on stained glassed windows for the Mexico City Cathedral. She studied in England in 1977 and had done a few landscape paintings. She ended up failing, however, because the photography faculty did not like that she altered the landscape and strayed away from keeping it purely documentary.[citation needed]

Career

Kati Horna introduced Grobet to the world of photography, though the main influences in her early career were Mathias Goeritz, Gilberto Aceves Navarro, El Santo and others.[7]

Grobet studied as a painter in Mexico for some time and then took a trip to Paris in 1968, it changed her life and the way that she viewed the art world.[8]

While she was in Paris she visited a lot of art galleries and discovered Kinetic Art[1] and because of this, she liked to work with Multi-Media. She spent some time working with a Jazz concert controlling lighting and kinetic projections. When Grobet returned to Mexico, she decided that she wanted to focus on photography, after she got back home she decided to burn all of her old work and start over.[7]

In 1981 Grobet released her first set of photographs. At the beginning of her career in photography, she was part of a group called Consejo Mexicano de Fotografía (Mexican Council of Photography),[9] formed by Pedro Meyer in 1977.[10] With her participation in this group, she was able to revitalize photography in Mexico,[citation needed] which led to a movement called the Grupos. Grobet was focused on establishing a community-based perspective.[11]

Grobet spent some time with Indigenous people and during a time of great struggle for them. She took the time to learn more about them and photograph them in a theatrical way. She wanted to relate to Indigenous people using her artistic initiative, so they had made costumes and scenery of their own and she then took their photos. Later on, Grobet took interest in the Mayan culture. Wanting to learn more about the Mayans she went to the suburbs, this was a less common action, but she wanted to steer clear of any tourists. She wanted to get accurate information and explore an area less traveled. She discovered temples that were made by an unknown civilization and she decided they were to be called the Olmayazetec.

After her education and her travels, she came back to Mexico. She once again started to explore her childhood interest of luchadores.[7] She found that there was very little information pertaining to the luchadores and so she decided that she wanted to make them more known to the world.[12]

Grobet spent thirty years devoted to taking pictures of the luchadores and studying their way of life.[2][13] She spent time photographing Lucha Libre wrestlers inside and outside of the ring, both in their masks, but also in their own homes. Grobet wanted to show that they lived normal lives, just like everyone else. She got very close with well known Lucha Libre wrestlers such as: El Santo, Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras, Sagrada, Octagon, Misioneros de la Muerte, Los Perros del Mal, and Los Brazos.[14] Much influenced by Mathias Goeritz, the Polish sculptor from Gdańsk and by Gilberto Aceves Navarro, a Mexican master of art murals, who were her teachers, Lourdes Grobet worked on pictures of El Santo, one of the most important Mexican wrestlers, and a hero of Lucha libre who starred in more than 50 films. Since 1975, she has published more than 11,000 photographs of the sport, including those on the sport in the United States since the 1930s, and as an important part of Mexican popular culture, adopting a sociological attitude. The sport involves many costumes and masks, leading it to a sport-carnival air which is much appreciated by Mexicans.

Grobet has had over one hundred exhibitions of her photographs, both group and solo exhibitions. She had her work exhibited in the London Mexfest festival in 2012. She won an award at the Second Biennal in Fine art photography. In 1975, for the exhibition Hora y media, she transformed a gallery into a photographic laboratory. She developed the photographs, but without fixing them, and displayed them on three walls. While the public looked at the photographs, the lights from the gallery meant that they disappeared.

In 1977, she presented Travelling, an exhibition of photography on an escalator. Among other works, she took: Paisajes pintados, Teatro campesino, Strip Tease.

Personal life

Grobet married Xavier Perez Barba in 1962 and they had four children together. They divorced in 1974.[7]

Death

Grobet died on 15 July 2022 in Mexico City.[15]

Work and process

As Grobet was making her photographs, she desired to understand reality better. According to Grobet, and as noted in her 2005 book Lourdes Grobet,[16] "she has used this photographic experience as an inductive process in order to understand or 'live' reality (or realities) rather than illustrate certain preconceived ideas. She is not scared to employ different (sometimes contradictory) languages available to her to speak of her particular experience and standpoint, thus sacrificing formal purism. In her own way, Grobet manages to use photography to relate to herself, to relate to us and to take action in the problematic reality that is Mexico."[16]

Some of the work that she done was collaborative, while others, she liked to do on her own time.[11] When photographing the luchadores she wanted to show their tough side, but she also wanted to show the fragile side as well. Grobet wanted to uncover the roots of the Lucha Libre. She wanted to show that the Lucha Libre is important to the culture of Mexico and that they are meant to be related back to the time of the Aztecs. Grobet found that there was not much information about these fascinating Luchadores.[12] She wanted the luchadores to get the recognition they deserve as Mexico's important cultural figure.[12]

Awards

  • FONCA grant, Mexico 2010–11
  • Macdowell Residency, United States 2007[17]
  • FONCA grant, Mexico 2005–2006
  • Bellagio Residency, Italy 2003[6][18]
  • MacDowell Residency, United States 2002[6][17]
  • Yaddo Residency, United States 2001[6][19]
  • Sistema Nacional de Creadores Grant, Mexican Cultural Institute, Mexico 1999–2001[6]
  • Banff Centre for the Arts, Residency Canada 1996[6]
  • Sistema Nacional de Creadores Grant, Mexican Cultural Institute, Mexico 1995–1998[6]
  • International Award, Latin American Emancipation and Identity 1492–1992, contest, Quito Ecuador 1992[6]
  • Best Monument Award for commemoration of 20th Anniversary of Tlatelolco massacre, with the group Proceso Pentagono, Mexico 1988[6]
  • Best Book Award, Juan Pablos Editions, Mexico 1988[6]
  • Libro Propositivo Award, Mexico 1984[6]
  • Photographic Biennal award, Mexico 1982[5][6]

Solo exhibitions

  • 2015 Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain[20]
  • 2013 Wrestling, Mexican consulate, Miami, Florida, United States
  • 2012 El nuevo hombre de Bering (The New Man of Bering), NegPos, Nîmes, France[4]
  • 2010 Equilibrium & Resistance, Gallery UAM Mexico City
  • 2010 Espectacular de Lucha Libre, National Museum of Art, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
  • 2009 Equilibrium & Resistance, Museo Archivo de la Fotografía, Mexico City
  • 2008 La Mano Negra, IMSS. México
  • 2008 Upside Down Les Artiques, Musée du Quai Branly, Paris, France
  • 2007 Lucha libre, Foto España. Madrid, Spain
  • 2006 Lucha libre, three subway stations. México D.F.
  • 2005 Lourdes Grobet: Retrospective, Bruce Silverstein Gallery, New York[21]
  • 2005 Black Party, New York, USA
  • 2005 Paisajes Pintados (Painted Landscapes), Alicante University, Spain
  • 2000 Lucha Libre, Centro Cultural Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico[6]
  • 2000 Prometeo Unisex (Prometheus Unisex), video installation, Ex-Teresa, Mexico City[6]
  • 1988 Los Manteles de Septiembre, Café la Gloria, Mexico City[6]
  • 1997 Tres Caídas (Three Falls), Centro Alvarez Bravo, Oaxaca, Mexico[6]
  • 1996 Pop, Mass and Sub-culture, Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada[6]
  • 1996 La Filomena, Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City[4]
  • 1995 La Máscara en la Cultura Mexicana (The Mask in Mexican Culture), Erfurt, Germany[6]
  • 1992 ¿De qué conquista hablamos? (Which Conquest are We Talking About?), Mexico City and Quito, Ecuador[6]
  • 1990 Neo-Olmayaztec, Gilardi gallery, Mexico City[6]
  • 1983 53 Cuadras, Museo del Chopo, Mexico City[6][22]
  • 1980-82-85-91 Lucha Libre, Mexico City-Chicago-Havana-Amsterdam[6]
  • 1977-1991 Paisajes Pintados (Painted Landscapes), Derby, Great Britain-Mexico City[6]
  • 1977 Travelling Exhibition, Derby, Great Britain[6]
  • 1975 Hora y Media (Hour and a Half), Casa del Lago, Mexico City[6][4]
  • 1974 A la Mesa (To the Table), Casa del Lago, Mexico City[6][4]
  • 1970 Serendípiti (Serendipity), Galería Misrachi, Mexico City[6][4]

Theatre, film, and video

  • 2013 "Equilibrium & Resistance, bering Strait. documentary
  • 2012 "The New man of Bering" NegPos gallery, Nîmes France
  • 2011 "Hear the silence"/ work of sculptor Helen Escobedo. México
  • 2010 "On Human Scale"/ work of sculptor Helen Escobedo. México
  • 2009–2010 "Interactiv, Images of BeringStrait" / MAF. México
  • 2000–2009 Frontier/ Musée du Quai Branly, Paris France. Museo Archivo de la Fotografia Mexico City
  • 2008–2009 Fluxus/ Musée du Quai Branly, Paris France. Museo Archivo de la Fotografia
  • 2006 "Lobulos on Line"/ Mexico City
  • 2005 "Grobet Witch Project"/. Alicante University Spain
  • 2003 "As-Is"/, Museum of Modern Art, Mexico city.
  • 2002 "Prometheus Unisex"36th New York Expo. Film and video. New York. USA
  • 2001 "Prometheus Unisex" / Video Biennal Brazil
  • 2000 "Prometheus Unisex" / ExTeresa Arte Actual, Mexico City
  • 1995–2000, videos for Teatro Campesino e Indigena, theatre group, Mexico
  • 1996 "Luz y Fer " / Centro de la Imagen, México City
  • 1992 "Lucha Libre" / interview for French Television
  • 1990 "Lucha Libre"/ film for BBC London Great Britain
  • 1986–2001, photographs for Teatro Campesino e Indígena, theatre group, Mexico
  • 1983–1984 "De Mugir a Mujer / performance, Casa del Lago, Mexico City
  • 1978–1992 Theatre collaborations with Susana Alexander[5]

Collections

Publications

  • Se Escoge el Tiempo (1983). Los Talleres, Mexico City.
  • Luciérnagas (1984) (a published collection of loose photographs). E.N.A.P. Mexico City.
  • Bodas de Sangre (1987). Tabasco County Government.
  • Santo y Seña de los Recintos Históricos de la Universidad de México (1996). ISBN 968-36-4630-1.
  • Lourdes Grobet (2005). Turner Publicaciones, Spain. ISBN 84-7506-620-8.
  • Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling (2005). ISBN 1-933045-05-1.
  • Retratos de Familia (2007). Reverté Editores, Mexico/Spain. ISBN 6077515051.
  • Espectacular de Lucha Libre (2008). Trilce Editions, Mexico City. ISBN 968-9044-16-8.
  • Lucha Libre Mexicana (with Gabriel Rodríguez) (2008) ISBN 968-9044-17-6

References

  1. ^ a b c Documental, 3 March 2020 |; Experimental; México; Mujer (3 March 2020). "Lourdes Grobet". Cada día un fotógrafo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 29 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b "Lourdes Grobet Biography :: PicassoMio". PicassoMio. Retrieved 12 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Gonzalez, David (9 April 2018). "Who Was That Masked Man? A Wrestling Priest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Lourdes Grobet | Hammer Museum". hammer.ucla.edu. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "CV Lourdes Grobet". Lourdes Grobet. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Lourdes Grobet. Madrid: Turner. 2005. pp. 502–505. ISBN 8475066208.
  7. ^ a b c d e Abelleyra, Angélica (2005). "A Life Without Masks. An Interview with Lourdes Grobet". In Grobet, Lourdes (ed.). Lourdes Grobet. pp. 492–501. ISBN 8475066208.
  8. ^ "Lourdes Grobet - Exhibitions". Bruce Silverstein. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Colección Consejo Mexicano de Fotografía - Fototeca Nacional". Mediateca - Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Pedro Meyer". A Photo Teacher |. 6 July 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Lourdes Grobet. Photography and environment". Lourdes Grobet. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Jacques, Adam (12 August 2012). "Portfolio: Lourdes Grobet". The Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  13. ^ Jacques, Adam (12 August 2012). "Portfolio: Lourdes Grobet". The Independent. Retrieved 9 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Vroons, Erik (21 March 2012). "Lourdes Grobet: Behind the Mask". GUP. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Muere la fotógrafa mexicana Lourdes Grobet". El Universal. 15 July 2022.
  16. ^ a b Grobet, Loudes (2005). Lourdes Grobet (1. ed.). Madrid: Turner. p. 54. ISBN 84-7506-620-8. OCLC 59354430.
  17. ^ a b "Lourdes Grobet". MacDowell Colony. Retrieved 15 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Annual Report - 2003 - The Rockefeller Foundation" (PDF). Rockefeller Foundation. 1 January 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ "Visual Artists – Yaddo". www.yaddo.org. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Mexican Lucha Libre Wrestling: family portraits. Photographs by Lourdes Grobet | Barcelona guide". www.webarcelona.net. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Lourdes Grobet - Exhibitions - Bruce Silverstein". www.brucesilverstein.com. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  22. ^ "exposiciones". www.chopo.unam.mx. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Brooklyn Museum". Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved 12 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Lourdes Grobet". The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Retrieved 12 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Tinieblas, Alushe y Tinieblas Jr". SFMOMA. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Exhibition exploring Mexican lucha libre opens at the Museum of Latin American Art". artdaily.cc. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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