Returning to La Paz - Imágenes paceñas - online only, see website

About

'Returning to La Paz' is an hommage to Javier Molina's birth place.  After living in the USA for a number of years the Bolivian photographer 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. 

We've been working with Bolivian photographer Javier Molina for some time, but it was only recently during a review of Javier's archive that we came across a series of vintage prints and negatives of photos Javier took in his hometown La Paz in the 70s. 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. 

Javier Molina was born in La Paz. He left the city for boarding school and subsequently  lived in the USA for a number of years, where he studied photography.

When he returned in the early 70s he rediscovered the city of his birth as a photographer.

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 collaberation, the book  “Imagines Paceñas, laughers 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.

Reflecting on his photos  Javier Molina says: "I have never been attracted to the folklorism attached to the native population, the typical images of the poor Indian, etc. The city, its structure and perspective presented all the elements of a portrait. It is only in hindsight that those images acquire a mythology, a historic reality, a record of the passage of time."

Javier Molina has gone back into the dark room to produce a set of editioned fine art gelatin silver prints of the series.

For print enquiries contact us at info@albumen-gallery.com