Expertly curated by Claudi Carreras, this show, which brings together ten contemporary Latin American photographers from Argentina, Mexico and Peru, is more proof that the cutting edges of camera work have migrated definitively to the non-Western world. Whereas unbridled postmodern experimentation dominates in East Asia and Iran, mordant and revealing social criticism takes the lead south of the Rio Grande. Livia Corona takes top honors for her color series documenting the results of former Mexican president Vicente Fox’s program of building more than two million low-income houses, implemented with public funds by private investors who proceeded to raise up vast swathes of identical ticky-tacky dwellings across the land, often without providing basic utilities. Corona’s panoramic view of an enormous tract and her intimate family portraits leave the viewer with ambivalence—certainly the living conditions of the inhabitants have improved, but are projects the path to progress? The other nine contributors are also intelligent and sensitive, each in their own ways. Chicago has been fortunate over the past year to be treated to rich offerings of global photography; this show is another must-see. (Michael Weinstein)
Through March 31 at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio
For Us: A Review of "Something from Something" at Engage Projects Kushala Vora and Adia Sykes’ collaboration "Something from Something" tells us as viewers that knowledge, art, creation, inspiration, love—really anything you can think of—has a place of origin.
Women Behind the Lens: A Review of "From Her to Eternity" Courtney Love curates on the street. Just west of Wabash on the corner of Eighth Street, there is a wall of stellar rock star images that includes a special collection made by women photographers over the years.
