For more than 30 years Adriana Lestido documented real life through intimate photos. She was born in Buenos Aires in 1955 and worked as a photojournalist for the dailies La Voz y Pagina 12.
Lestido´s photographic essays (from 1979 to 2007) portray various aspects, combinations and variations of motherhood. Her black-and-white photos describe the often difficult place of women in society.
Lestido´s photographic essays (from 1979 to 2007) portray various aspects, combinations and variations of motherhood. Her black-and-white photos describe the often difficult place of women in society.
The photographer once said about her work: “It has long been said that I document the feminine universe. But it’s more that I portray the constant absence of male, which is not the same thing”.
Her work comes in series; Hospital infanto-juvenil (1986-1988), Madres adolescentes (1988-1990), Mujeres presas (1991-1993), Madres e hijas (1995-1998), El amor (1992-2005) and Villa Gesell (2005).
In ‘Mujeres presas’ for example, the photos were taken during a whole year in prison No. 8 of Los Hornos, La Plata. Lestido visited regularly to take the photos of women in prison with their children. Argentina is one of the only countries where an accused or prosecuted women has the right to be in prison with her child until he or she is two years old.
Her last photobook ‘Lo que se ve’ was also introduced during the last exhibition opening and she dedicated it to her friend, Willy Moralli, who disappeared in 1978 during the dictatorial goverment.
In words of art critic Rodrigo Alonso, “Lestido prefers to portray characters in their own environment, with their actions and their living spaces, avoiding the sets and forced poses. Her camera is ready to capture small gestures, involuntary movements, moments where her presence is completely gone to the people she photographes.
Adriana Lestido has received many awards like a Mother Jones from United States and a Konex from Argentina. She was the first Argentinian photographer to receive the Guggenheim Fellowship and her work was widely exhibited, not only in Argentina, but also in United States, France and Sweden.
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, in Buenos Aires, is currently showing an exhibition on 70 of her works. The exhibition can be visited until July 14th.
Visit her website to see more of her work.
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