Art of the Mexican Revolution – Legend and Reality (catalogue)

The exhibition for which this catalogue was published took place in 1974 at Charlottenburg Palace with almost 300 exhibits in the form of full-size replicas of murals, prints, books, and documentary photographs. The show was divided into themed sections dealing among others with the working and living conditions of Mexico’s population, the revolution, relations with the United States, and exploitation by the bourgeoisie. During a preparatory trip to Mexico, the working group gathered a wealth of material that was entirely unknown in Europe. As the foreword puts it, the Mexican government sought to prevent “politically committed art that presents social conditions realistically and calls for change.” The much-discussed catalogue sold out so quickly that a second edition was produced during the exhibition. As well as image material ranging from Zapatista photos to protest writings to colored paintings by Diego Riviera, it examines Mexico’s cultural history from various viewpoints with essays, maps, plans, and a chronology.

Ed.: nGbK

Work group: Helmuth von Claer, Hanna Gagel, Ute Grauerholz, Peter Moses-Krause, Olav Münzberg, Michael Nungesser, Helga Prignitz, Johanna Rosen, Friedrich Rothe, Hans Schlirf, Rose Schlirf, Wolfgang Tschöke, Bernd Weyergraf