Martín Chambi Retrospective Opens in Lima, Showcasing Photographer's Legacy

The Inca Garcilaso Cultural Center is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to unveil a major retrospective of Martín Chambi's photography. The exhibition, titled 'CHAMBI. Historia, oficio, archivo y legado,' will occupy all five halls of the center, opening on June 10. This extensive showcase promises to immerse visitors in the powerful visual world of the legendary Peruvian photographer, known for his masterful black and white compositions and his profound humanistic portrayal of Peruvian life.

“

From the foundation of the Martín Chambi Association, composed of the direct heirs, we began to seek how to put the great legacy of his work into value. We applied for and won the U.S. Ambassador's Fund in Peru, which allowed us to conserve this archive.

Curated by Peruska Chambi, the photographer's granddaughter, and Karen Bernedo, the exhibition brings together over 50 of Chambi's iconic works. Visitors can expect to see the signature Chambi style: the striking contrast of black and white, the evocative gestures of his subjects, and the dignified representation of peasant communities. His work is characterized by a deep sense of dignity and humanity, essential elements of his visual poetry.

This exhibition marks a significant moment for Peruvian photography, coming a decade after a major show at the Museum of Art of Lima. Peruska Chambi explained that the Martín Chambi Association, formed by the photographer's direct heirs, has been dedicated to valorizing his legacy. A crucial step was securing the U.S. Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, which enabled the complete conservation of Chambi's vast archive. This conservation project, which took nearly two years, involved digitizing and cataloging approximately 40,000 photographs, making them accessible for future exhibitions and research.

“

Then, upon completing the full conservation of the archive, we began the second stage of dissemination by our association. This project lasted almost two years. We started disseminating because we could now search for any image through the great digitized archive we have. We have digitized, cataloged, an archive of 40,000 photos.

The digitization process was meticulously carried out with the advice of the U.S. Library of Congress, using specialized equipment to ensure maximum resolution and quality across various formats. This advanced approach differentiates the current exhibition from previous ones. The exhibition has been planned for years, with initial discussions held at the cultural center in late 2022. Prior to this Lima exhibition, a significant showing of Chambi's work was also held in Cusco in 2023 at the Casa Concha Museum.

“

At the end of 2022, I came to this cultural center and spoke with Ambassador Guido Toro. Together with Gredna Landolt, we looked at the agenda, and this exhibition was set for four years later. We had planned to have a large exhibition in Lima. We had already had one at the Casa Concha Museum in Cusco in 2023.