A idealistic, red-haired, Chilean-born photographer who has lived in or visited a dizzying number of places, from Nice, France, to New York, is opening a show at Casa Escorza in central Guadalajara. Appropriately enough, considering Emiliano Thibaut’s peripatetic life, this collection of 19 medium- and large-format photos focus on New York City, specifically its down-and-out population.
It’s a “delicate subject,” he says.
And Thibaut’s take on it, rather than being exploitative, is tinged with political and social awareness, a frame of mind forged in his early — very early — experiences as a refugee. At the age of 1 1/2, during the infamous coup d’etat that ousted Chile’s legitimate government, Thibuat’s parents (and Chilean President Allende’s widow) took refuge in an embassy, then fled through a whirlwind of cities worldwide before taking refuge eight years later in Nicaragua, where the then-nine-year-old Emiliano participated in that country’s revolution.
“I picked coffee in war zones, helped rescue people during hurricanes” he said, listing some of what he did in Nicaragua while his family was exiled from Chile.
Later he studied photography in Barcelona and, still apparently fascinated with revolutions, chronicled the Zapatistas, visited Cuba many times, and had his work published in the likes of Time and Newsweek magazines.
Despite having all this under his belt, this is the first individual exhibition that the 40-ish Thibaut has had.
“I never worried much about having shows,” he says, because he was immersed in many things — documentaries, film production, commercials.
But a first is a first, so Emiliano Thibaut is psyched — not only about the show, but because famed New York rock musician Lou Reed has given a last-minute nod to Thibaut’s work and the text will be featured prominently at Casa Escorza, a high and narrow house maintained near the Templo Expiatorio (Vallarta near Enrique Diaz de Leon) as a photography exhibition space.
“I was afraid Lou Reed wouldn’t like the show, because he’s such a New Yorker” and the show is critical of the city that projects the ultimate images of beauty and success, deceiving and disappointing so many people with its wiles. Now, with Reed’s commentary propelling it, Thibaut believes his show may travel to other locales.
Not only is there excitement about the tribute from Lou Reed, but the photographer, who says he came to Guadalajara “for love,” has just become the father of a two-month old baby girl, his first child.
“I plan to stay here in Guadalajara,” said Thibaut. And that resolution is remarkable for a man who has wandered so much.
Casa Escorza, Calle Escorza 83-A, just across Avenida Vallarta from Museo de las Artes. Open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (33) 3826-8696. See www.emilianothibaut.com.