Tina Modotti. The genesis of a modern gaze

The Centre Saint Bénin by Aosta hosts an exhibition dedicated to Tina Modotti (Udine, 1896 - Mexico City, 1942), one of the most important female photographers of the early 20th century. Entitled Tina Modotti: The Genesis of a Modern Look, the exhibition is promoted by the Cultural Heritage Department of the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta, and is curated by Dominique Lora, in collaboration with Daria Jorioz, manager of the Structure for Exhibition Activities and Promotion of Cultural Identity of the Aosta Valley.

Through more than 100 original shots of the photographer from the collection of the National Institute of Anthropology and History and the National Photo Library of Mexico City, the exhibition aims to analyse the contribution that Modotti made in the development of photography in Mexico. Adventurous, nomadic and at times mysterious, Tina Modotti's life was galvanised by turbulent passions that influenced her existence and her strong, sensitive creativity, giving rise to her sophisticated talent and her pioneering photographic technique.

Modern woman and visionary artistDuring the first half of the last century, Modotti was an integral part of the artistic and poetic experiments that characterised the first avant-garde movements of the 20th century. Although in recent years her work has attracted the attention of writers, directors, artists and curatorsThe subject and focus of most exhibitions, in-depth studies and various publications devoted to her have generally concentrated on her romantic adventures or her relationships with other famous personalities of the political or artistic scene of the first half of the 20th century, including Julio Antonio Mella, Edward Weston, Frida Kahlo or Diego Rivera. Thus, the question of his tangible, decisive and lasting influence on the development of photographic art in Mexico and abroad remains neglected by international public opinion today.