Photography in Puerto Rico

[Ecuajey]

III International Photography Bienal

PuertoRicoWOW.com


La Puntilla’s Antigua Arsenal de la Marina is the setting for Puerto Rico’s Third International Photography Bienal, which holds it inaugural Nov. 5 during Gallery Night in Viejo San Juan.

The event honors the 90th anniversary celebration of the founding of Inter American University. “We dedicate this Bienal to Inter American University because of its constant support to the development of art in Puerto Rico,” said Jorge Ramos, the event’s executive director. Additionally, the bienal is dedicated to early 20th-century Venezuelan photographer Isidro Gil.

Under the theme “Fronteras” (frontier), the exhibition demonstrates how artists work with their own limitations and illustrates the different styles of photography used in their works of art.

More than 245 pieces by 96 photographers are featured in the third edition of the International Photography Bienal. Color photography and the participation of eminent maestros in black & white works on conventional paper and digital abound in this display of imagery. The innovative bienal offers much more than traditional 5x7 images. The photographic display gathers a variety of means, including collage, installations, mixed, and constructions.

Puerto Rico’s International Photography Bienal is the island’s most important exhibition of this medium. A panel of judges comprised of Dr. Osiris Delgado, José Rafael Charrón, and Alberto Rodríguez chose the selected works.

In Puerto Rico, unlike the United States, Venezuela, Brazil, and Mexico, it has been a struggle for photography to gain respect and recognition as an art form. Despite this reality, this has been “the year of photography” according to Jorge Ramos Caro. “To our recollection, there hasn’t been a year with so many photographic exhibitions, as in the past 11 months,” he added. Just last month, Inter American University presented the exhibition “Migrations: Humanity in Transition” by internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado. Moreover, in July, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico presented “Photography as a Concept,” a selection of photographic works by 20 artists from Puerto Rico and the United States.

According to Ramos Caro, photography is very popular among young people and thousands of visitors have witnessed these exhibitions. The bienal’s executive director relays that the event’s roots and the today’s passion for photography started in Miramar’s Galería PI 900, where a group of photographers gathered more than 20 years ago. As a member of the group that started it all, Ramos Caro inaugurated the first photography bienal in 1998.

Puerto Rico’s Third International Photography Bienal will be on display until January at La Puntilla’s Antigua Arsenal de la Marina in Viejo San Juan. For additional information, call (787) 724-1877.