In Arles, a Spotlight on Mexico

  • Dulce Pinzon From the series "The true story of super-heroes" José Rosendo de Jesus, from the State of Guerrero works as a union organizer in New York. He sends 700 dollars a month.
    Courtesy Dulce Pinzon
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  • Christophe Agou Untitled, from the series "Facing Silence" (2002-2010).
    Courtesy Christophe Agou
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  • Augustin Rebetez From the series "Everything that looks angry but doesn't raise its voice," 2010.
    Courtesy Augustin Rebetez
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  • Josè Ramûn Bas Ndar, 2008
    Courtesy Josè Ramûn Bas
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  • Françoise Beauguion Prizewinner SFR Young Photo Talent/Rencontres d'Arles 2011. From the series "Face to Face", 2010.
    Courtesy Françoise Beauguion
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  • Daniela Rossell Untitled (Ricas y Famosas) Medusa, 1999 C-print 30"x 40"
    Courtesy Greene Naftali Gallery, New York
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  • Claire Delfino Prizewinner SFR Young Photo Talent/Rencontres d'Arles 2011. From the series "Plis du sommeil", 2008-11.
    Courtesy Claire Delfino
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  • Domingo Milella Cuantepec, at night, Mexico City, 2004.
    Courtesy Brancolini Grimaldi Arte Contemporanea
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  • Antonin Kratochvil / VII A street scene in Umm Qasr, a large port in Al Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, April 12, 2003.
    Courtesy Antonin Kratochvil—VII
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  • Douglas Gordon 24 Hour Psycho Back and Forth and To and Fro, 2008. Video Installation, Installation View Tramway, Glasgow, 2010. Photo Studio lost but found (Frederik Pedersen)
    Courtesy Douglas Gordon
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  • Aurélie Durand Prizewinner SFR Young Photo Talent/Rencontres d'Arles 2011. From the series "Tourism", 2007-11.
    Courtesy Aurélie Durand
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  • Lynne Cohen "Untitled (Astroturf)," 2005
    Courtesy In Situ / Fabienne Leclerc Gallery, Paris
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  • Enrique Metinides Untitled Torreo Stadium, Mexico City, 1971. "I wanted to know what death was like," admitted 45-year old Antonio N. after two rescue workers persuaded him not to jump.
    Courtesy Enrique Metinides
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  • Enrique Metinides Untitled Regis Hotel, Centro Historico, Mexico City, 1985. After the earthquake of September 19, 1985.
    Courtesy Enrique Metinides
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  • Fernando Montiel Klint Acts of Faith From the series "Acts of Faith" 2009
    Courtesy Fernando Montiel Klint
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  • Fernando Montiel Klint Artist in the Studio From the series "Nirvana" 2008
    Courtesy Fernando Montiel Klint
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  • Manuel Alvarez Bravo Gabriel Figueroa checking the light readings for Sonatas, directed by Juan Antonio Bardem, 1959. Televisa Foundation Collection, Film Division.
    Courtesy Manuel Alvarez Bravo
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  • Julie Fischer Untitled, Finland, 2010.
    Courtesy Julie Fischer
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  • Graciela Iturbide Jano, Ocumichu, Michoacan, Mexico, 1980 Gelatin silver print Colecciones Fundaciun MAPFRE 2011
    Courtesy Graciela Iturbide
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  • Nicolas Guilbert Abbaye de Montmajour, 2011.
    Courtesy Nicolas Guilbert
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  • Marin Hock From the series "D'une tristesse à l'autre", 2008
    Courtesy Marin Hock
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  • Maya Goded Welcome to Lipstick. December 2009. Border of Mexico-USA - zone of prostitution.
    Courtesy Maya Goded
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  • Maya Goded Welcome to Lipstick. December 2009. Border of Mexico-USA - zone of prostitution.
    Courtest Maya Goded
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  • Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse Lift Portrait 3 Ponte City, Johannesburg, 2008.
    Courtesy Mikhael Subotzky, Patrick Waterhouse and Goodman Gallery
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  • Mishka Henner NATO Storage Annex, Coevorden, 2011
    Courtesy Mishka Henner
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  • Penelope Umbrico 8,799,661 Suns From Flickr (Partial) 3/8/11 2011
    Courtesy Penelope Umbrico
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  • Penelope Umbrico Sideways TVs (Craigslist/Gumtree), 2010-11
    Courtesy Penelope Umbrico
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  • Michel Marizi Paris Match director Roger Thérond in his office with the photos for the magazine's 50th anniversary album.
    Courtesy Michel Marizi
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  • Pierre Toussaint From the series "Metronome", 2011.
    Courtesy Pierre Toussaint
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  • Cy Twombly Tree-peony, Bassano in Teverina, 1980.
    Courtesy Cy Twombly
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  • Gerda Taro Spectators at the funeral parade of General Lukacs, Valencia, June 16, 1937 Negative
    Courtesy International Center of Photography
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By Vaughn Wallace

The 42nd edition of the Les Rencontres d’Arles photo festival kicked off on July 4 in the south of France, where 47 exhibitions will be shown throughout 23 locations, including old churches and factories. “I try to offer a very different program every year, after 30 years working with photographers,” says François Hébel, director of the annual photography festival. “Opposed to a museum that studies the career of a photographer, we show more fragile works [and] new aesthetics in photography.”

This year’s festival will spotlight Mexico with contemporary images from the nation’s capital as well as rare photographs from the Mexican Revolution, pulled together under an umbrella Republic exhibition. Here, the festival will present The Mexican Suitcase, a set of Spanish Civil War images shot by Robert Capa, Chim (David Seymour) and Gerda Taro recently rediscovered in 2007.

Other highlights from this year’s event include a Chris Marker retrospective, which features more than 300 works by the French photographer and filmmaker. His famous Koreans — a collection of images of North Korean life from Marker’s trip to the country in 1957 — will be on display along with video and installation pieces. From Here On, curated by Martin Parr, Joan Fontcuberta, Erik Kessels, Joachim Schmidt and Clement Cheroux, will examine digital photography and the influence of the internet on the art form.

—Reporting by Feifei Sun

Exhibitions from Les Rencontres d’Arles are on display through September 18.

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