A new online exhibition at Albumen Gallery features a collection of vintage 70s photos by Bolivian photographer Javier Molina.
‘Returning to La Paz’ is an homage to Javier Molina’s birth place. After living in the USA for a number of years Javier Molina returned to La Paz in the early 1970s. Through living abroad he had gained perspective that allowed him to see the city with new eyes. All photos in the exhibition were taken between 1972 – 75. Until now they have never been shown in one exhibition.
London based Albumen Gallery has been working with Bolivian photographer Javier Molina for some time, but it was only recently during a review of Javier’s archive that the series of vintage prints and negatives of photos Javier took in his hometown La Paz in the 70s came to Albumen Gallery’s attention. Struck by the beauty and quality of the photos it was an obvious decision to share these images with a wider audience of photography lovers and collectors.
In 1974 Javier met the Bolivian writer – mystical poet and novelist – Jaime Saenz. Impressed by each other’s work, together they developed the idea of recording disappearing places and characters of the city they loved. The result of their collaboration, the book “Imagines Paceñas, lugares y personas” (words by Jaime Saenz / Photos by Javier Molina), was published in 1975. In its third edition a copy of the book was given to all La Paz high school graduates.
Returning to La Paz with Javier Molina’s vintage photos of the 70s also adds another dimension. The Bolivian city has grown and completely changed beyond recognition since the days the photos were taken. Javier Molinas’s images take us back to a place that simply doesn’t exist any longer.
The exhibition opened on January 14th and will run until April 11th. ‘Returning to La Paz’ will be accompanied by an Albumen Gallery Publication collectors edition photobook with the same title.
For limited edition prints of the photos in the exhibition contact
Javier Molina : Returning to La Paz
