Desmond Rochfort

It (the book) smells a bit musty...as one might expect when extracted from one of the re-cycling shops but that hasn't detracted from the reading. I quite enjoyed it. One of my memories of living in Mexico is that we set out one rather sunny morning to visit the home of Diego Rivera (which was quite a tourist attraction in its own right ..and rather remarkable architecture). But, as happens to the unwary tourist it was closed that day. However, I've just done some research and found that what I thought was the artist's home was actually the Anahuacalli museum established by Rivera to feature pre-Columbian Art. (So much for treasured memories). Anyway, we made-do by calling in at the home of Frida Khalo...his wife/mistress. I didn't appreciate her or her work at that time (1973) ....more so now.....and have been intrigued by the growth in her popularity....fuelled in part, I think, by gender studies and the power of feminist movements. She wasn't that well known in 1973. Certainly she was a smart, original and independent woman...despite the poor deal she had been dealt with her own health.
But back to Rivera and the book. I remember the scathing remarks of my colleague in my office in Spain after he returned from Mexico. He commented that all the art there was mural after mural ...and wasn't there anything else? Well a little cruel I think. But certainly the muralists have made their mark on Mexico and they are pretty good muralist. On a local wall (where i live) we have a mural which people are keen to conserve. Yes, it invokes a number of aspects of local history but compared with the scope, the perspectives, and the power of the Mexican muralists....especially Rivera.....it is very weak.
Rivera seems to have remained reasonably true to his communist ideals with his work. All the familiar themes are there...the Aztec past, the conquistadores, the haciendas, the colonial exploitation, independence and the Mexican revolution, workers being exploited by the capitalists etc. (Well, we speak of "THE" Mexican revolution ......but I think there were about 20 smaller revolutions before 1912).
Somewhere I have a book which has photographs from the Mexican revolution. It commences, pre-revolution with a wealthy women horse rider at one of the country clubs, jumping her horse over a hurdle. And then comes the series of the horrors and small triumphs of the revolution; soldiers lined up against a wall being executed, chaotic scenes of horses being loaded onto trains and meetings between Pancho Villa and Francisco Zapata. (I didn't realise it before but Rivera spent the years of the revolution in Europe, whilst his contemporary muralist, Siquieros had actually been a combatant in the action). Then comes the end of the revolution and civil war ....which was basically fought over land rights and a fairer distribution of wealth. The closing photo is of a wealthy woman on horseback at one of the exclusive Mexican country clubs, jumping a hurdle. In other words ......despite all the conflict turmoil and death ...very little had actually changed. And, to give him his due, Rivera polemicised about this inequality all his life. (Despite, quite clearly, becoming a part of the wealthy side of Mexican society....as exemplified by his museum...and his Juan O'Gorman designed house).
A lot of these murals are painted on walls that are, in reality, penetrated by arches or the view is obscured by columns etc. So the photographer has done really well to capture these murals so well. (I've struggled myself to take photographs at the Palacio National).
The book is large format and the colours are very good. (Maybe better than the originals via enhancement). But the originals have darkened a lot I think.
Yes, I liked the book. It gives a pretty good history of Rivera and his work and I learned a lot. Happy to give it 4 stars.… (más)