Guadalajara’s Instituto Cultural Cabañas is a place I come to write about art exhibits, but usually end up photographing the building itself, which to me rivals the Alhambra en Granada, Spain, in breathtaking loveliness. That is to say nothing about its central gem, the chapel whose ceiling bears the frescos of Jose Clemente Orozco, which are probably responsible for its designation as a UNESCO heritage site.
The Institute has hosted blockbuster international shows, but the years since the pandemic have not been kind to its budget. That is not necessarily a bad thing, since its collection of regional art and handicrafts is excellent and tends to be highlighted during lean times.
During February, with its pleasant weather, one exhibit worth seeing (only until February 23, as it was part of the FIL book fair) is “Lectura por contacto, poética y experimentación, en España,1962-1972.” It so happens I was in Spain during that period, when I saw the Alhambra and just before the dictator Franco died. So the show, which is fairly inscrutable, was of some interest to me. It combines text, imagery and cutting political commentary on Franco, who prohibited all artistic gatherings, unless they were pre-approved by his regime.
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