Con Alejandra Matiz, hija del memorable fotógrafo Leo Matiz (1917-1998).

Introduction to Abstracto Radio Program

Overview of the Program

• The radio program "Abstracto" is hosted by the Museo de Arte del Tolima, focusing on discussions about visual arts, music, and culture.

• Host Omaira Ramos introduces the show and its purpose of engaging in conversations about artistic exhibitions, events, and creative processes that shape the cultural agenda of the region.

Festival Folklórico Colombian Highlights

• The program reflects on the recently concluded 51st version of the Colombian Folkloric Festival, showcasing various expressions such as music and dance alongside visual arts.

• The museum remained open during the festival, featuring remarkable exhibitions aimed at both local residents and numerous visitors from around the world.

Special Exhibition: Latinoamérica Suena en el Lente de Leo Matis

Exhibition Details

• An exhibition honoring Ibagué as Colombia's musical capital is currently displayed at the museum, curated by Darí Ortiz. It features works by renowned photographer Leo Matis.

• Alejandra Matiz, daughter of Leo Matis and a cultural manager with extensive experience in preserving photographic art, is introduced as a special guest on the program.

Alejandra Matiz's Contributions

• Alejandra discusses her role in maintaining her father's legacy through her work with his foundation established in 1998 to promote his artwork and support young photographers facing challenges.

• She emphasizes her dedication over 50 years to sharing Leo Matis's work globally, recalling experiences like presenting it in Mongolia. This highlights not only personal commitment but also broader cultural outreach efforts.

Importance of Preserving Artistic Legacies

Discussion on Legacy Preservation

• The conversation touches upon how children can keep their parents' artistic legacies alive by ensuring they transcend borders and reach diverse audiences worldwide. This includes maintaining values and teachings associated with their work.

• The significance of Leo Matis’s contributions to photography is underscored as an essential part of Latin American art history, showcasing pride in Colombian heritage through his unique perspective captured via photography.

How Did the Leo Matis Foundation Collect and Preserve Photographic Material?

The Challenge of Collection

• The process of gathering photographic material for the Leo Matis Foundation was complex, as many negatives and prints were scattered across various locations due to Leo Matis's extensive travels.

• Leo Matis lived in Venezuela for nearly 40 years, frequently traveling back to Colombia and throughout South America, which resulted in a vast collection of negatives left behind in different countries.

• The foundation often receives inquiries from individuals or organizations that possess images taken by Matis, leading to collaborative agreements for sharing and digitizing these materials.

Technological Limitations and Recovery Efforts

• During Matis's active years, technology such as scanners did not exist; thus, many photographs were printed for publications but never returned to him.

• The recovery process has involved reaching out to various foundations that hold his work, negotiating terms for scanning and sharing resources.

Achievements in Preservation

• At age 18, Alejandra began promoting her father's work in New York City, successfully getting eight of his photographs included in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)'s permanent collection.

• Despite being Colombian, much of Leo Matis's legacy is developed from Mexico because he spent significant time there during its cultural golden age in the 1940s.

Future Aspirations for the Foundation

• Alejandra expresses a desire for the foundation’s heritage to return permanently to Colombia while maintaining an operational presence there.

• Although currently lacking a physical exhibition space in Bogotá, she aims to establish one again where they can showcase their collection.

Digitalization Challenges

• Many analog photographs are now being digitized; however, this task is complicated due to the sheer volume and diversity of subjects captured by Matis across multiple continents.

• Achieving high-quality digital reproductions that reflect the original quality of Matis's work has been a long-term effort involving extensive research into each photograph's origin.

Current Exhibitions at the Museum

• In addition to showcasing Leo Matiz’s photography, current exhibitions include vibrant works by artist Joana Saedra that explore personal connections through pop aesthetics.

• Saedra’s exhibition features interactive elements appealing particularly to children while also reflecting on her adolescence through unique materials like nail polish and decorative stones.

Artistic Investigation and Performance Events

Introduction to the Artistic Process

• The discussion opens with an introduction to the investigation of artistic works and their processes, setting the stage for a performance event featuring DJ Juan Pablo Flores.

Invitation to Cultural Events

• A quote is shared: "Join this space that traverses the languages of painting and finds in intimacy a space for investment," inviting attendees to participate in cultural Thursdays filled with performances and conversations.

Accessibility of Events

• Emphasizes that entry to the events, including discussions and performances, is free. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early due to limited seating (90 chairs available).

Overview of Leo Matis' Photography Exhibition

• Alejandra discusses her previous involvement in an exhibition featuring over 200 photographs centered on music, highlighting its presentation at notable venues like Museo Diego Rivera in Mexico and Argentina.

Curatorial Process Insights

• The selection process for the exhibition is explored, focusing on how various music genres inspired Leo Matis’ work. The aim was to create a significant exhibition celebrating music as a universal language.

Exhibition Expansion Beyond Latin America

Broader Context of Music in Art

• The conversation shifts towards expanding the exhibition's scope beyond Latin America during its time at Museo Diego Rivera, showcasing artists from Europe and Asia alongside Latin American talent.

Collaborative Efforts in Curation

• Alejandra mentions collaboration with Darío Ortiz for curating the exhibition focused on music photography. They aimed to select impactful works suitable for Ibagué, known as Colombia's city of music.

Significance of Donations and Future Exhibitions

Contribution to Local Museums

• Discussion about donating digital copies of around 1000 photos related to Leo Matis’ work to Museo de Ibagué, enhancing future photographic exhibitions there.

Personal Connections to Tolima Region

• Alejandra shares her personal ties to Tolima through family history, emphasizing her commitment to ensuring that significant works by Leo Matis are housed within Colombian museums.

Quality and Professionalism in Museum Exhibitions

Praise for Museum Standards

• Acknowledgment of Museo del Tolima’s high standards comparable to European or American museums. Alejandra commends Darío Ortiz’s curatorial skills as foundational for maintaining these standards.

Team Commitment

• Recognition of the small yet dedicated team at Museo de Arte del Tolima who strive tirelessly for its success. Their collective effort is highlighted as essential for sustaining museum operations now and into the future.

Museum Highlights and Celia Cruz's Legacy

Importance of the Museum

• The museum is described as a delightful place, with a special mention of its significance in showcasing important Colombian photography.

• Visitors are encouraged to explore the museum, emphasizing that it offers diverse exhibitions and artistic techniques reflecting the nation's history.

Celia Cruz: Iconic Figure in Music

• A photograph of Celia Cruz is highlighted, showcasing her unique style; she was known for wearing wigs throughout her career.

• Alejandra Matíz shares insights about her father's photographs of Celia Cruz, noting the rarity of images showing her natural hair.

Celia Cruz's Career and Influence

• Celia Cruz is celebrated as a remarkable Cuban singer with over 50 years in tropical music and salsa, recognized globally for her contributions.

• She began her musical journey in the 1940s in Cuba and later joined Sonora Matancera, becoming one of the leading voices in Cuban music.

Lasting Impact on Future Generations

• Her influence extends to many contemporary female artists who draw inspiration from her work within salsa and tropical genres.

• The discussion highlights how new generations continue to honor her legacy through their music.

Current Exhibitions at the Museum

Everyday Questions Exhibition

• An exhibition titled "Cuestiones cotidianas" by artist Luis Fernando Bautista transforms everyday objects into visual inquiries through various art forms.

• Notable works include an iconic piece featuring a fish head that captures attention due to its unique presentation.

Upcoming Events and Engagement Opportunities

• A virtual conversation will take place discussing artistic processes related to this exhibition; viewers are invited to participate online.

• The event aims to connect audiences with local artists while highlighting educational initiatives within the museum.

Musicians in Closed Spaces and Streets

Notable Musicians Featured in the Exhibition

• Alejandra discusses a captivating photograph of Dilia Zapata Olivella, taken in Bogotá while she dances cumbia. Dilia is noted as the sister of Manuel Zapato Olivella, a renowned writer.

• Mention of a beautiful foundation dedicated to Dilia in Colombia, which Alejandra expresses interest in visiting. The photo is part of the collection at the Museo del Tolima.

• Other notable images include Mapuche shamans celebrating New Year and Isidoro from Cartagena, who was known for his carriage rides with tourists.

• Discussion about photographs of famous Mexican figures like actor Pedro Vargas and musician Agustín Lara, highlighting Lara's unique piano-playing style and personal history involving a facial scar.

Leo Matis' Photography Style

• Anecdote about Leo Matis sending color photos to magazines but keeping black-and-white versions for their depth; he believed black-and-white captured more colors through its grayscale range.

• Emphasis on how Matis excelled in black-and-white photography, showcasing an extensive scale of grays that enhanced his artistic expression.

Challenges Faced by Leo Matis

• In the 1940s, Matis was contracted by Reider Dalles to travel across South America taking color photographs despite his preference for black-and-white work due to its permanence over time.

• Alejandra mentions that there are some color images within her father's collection since he also worked on advertising projects requiring color photography.

Personal Struggles and Resilience

• Discussion about Leo Matis losing an eye after a robbery attempt; this incident led many to believe he would never photograph again.

• Alejandra recounts her experience returning from New York upon learning about her father's accident and how she helped him recover emotionally and professionally after isolating himself post-injury.

Legacy and Continued Work

• After regaining confidence, Leo Matis continued to produce remarkable photographs with one eye. His work remained comparable to his earlier masterpieces from the 1940s.

• Reflection on their travels across Mexico for a book project titled "Los hombres del campo," capturing stunning images until shortly before his passing in 1998 due to cirrhosis.

The Legacy of a Photographer

The Art of Photography and Personal Connection

• The speaker reflects on the deep love for photography, highlighting how their father disassembled and reassembled his cameras to understand them better. He believed that knowing your equipment was essential for capturing great photographs.

• Acknowledgment of the father's resilience after losing an eye, yet he continued to take remarkable photographs that contributed significantly to Colombian photography history.

• After 50 years away, the father returned to Mexico and was chosen by a company among many photographers to create a book titled "Los hombres del campo," which was published in Japan with 5,000 copies distributed as gifts rather than sold.

• The Mexican company provided support by supplying cameras and transportation for the father and child to travel across Mexico, marking this journey as a farewell from the father to his homeland.

• The last two decades of the father's life were spent co-authoring photographs with his child, emphasizing their collaborative relationship in preserving memories through photography.

Celebrating Artistic Contributions

• Gratitude is expressed towards Alejandra for her contributions in keeping her father's memory alive through her work in photography.

• A call to appreciate art at exhibitions featuring both Alejandra's work and Luigi Fantini's pieces, which explore themes like combustion through simple objects such as matches.

• Discussion about how Fantini’s artwork invites viewers to observe deeper meanings behind everyday items like matches, encouraging reflection on what ignites passion or inspiration in life.

Invitation to Explore Cultural Spaces

• An invitation is extended for audiences to visit the Museum of Art of Tolima, where various exhibitions are showcased including those related to human-animal relationships depicted in literature and art.

• Information about museum visiting hours is shared along with encouragement for guided tours for groups or individual visits, promoting cultural engagement within the community.

• Details about the museum's location are provided alongside suggestions for enjoying local treats nearby while exploring multiple museums within Ibagué’s network.