The Easel

14th July 2026

Through Graciela Iturbide’s Eyes: Ritual, Identity, and the Poetry of Mexico

Iturbide a prominent Mexican photographer, often portrays her country from the viewpoint of indigenous communities. Indigenous culture is, of course, very different to western culture. Myth and death, for example, are central elements of indigenous Mexican culture. How can they be shown authentically? For Iturbide, it requires slow photography that is an “act of attention … … allowing images to form through proximity rather than pursuit. Says one writer she produces “haunting and haunted visions”.

7th July 2026

Frida Kahlo: Tate Mistakes the Icon for the Artist

A writer comments that Kahlo has been “flattened” by mythologizing. Her self-portraits were psychologically revealing and varied, leading to multiple interpretations – her connections with surrealism and with Mexican culture, her challenge to gender expectations. But, with relatively few of her paintings in a London show, which interpretation best captures Kahlo? Forget her iconic images, her true legacy are the works that communicate the “bold examination of the self,” A backgrounder is here.