Description
Cristina de Middel. Ready, Set, Archive
Book Summary
This catalog documents the exhibition of the same name by Cristina de Middel, winner of the 2017 National Photography Award, held at Tabacalera. The work brings together three photographic projects—Jan Mayen, Cucurrucucú, and Aleatoris Vulgaris—that explore the dual nature of photography as both a documentary tool and a vehicle for fiction. Across 499 pages, the reader gains access to a visual reflection on the boundaries between reality and invention, offering a profound look at the creative process of one of the most relevant photographers on the contemporary Spanish scene.
What is it about?
The book presents three photographic series that function as an expanded archive. In Jan Mayen, the artist reinterprets the history of a remote Arctic island, blending real documents with fictional elements. Cucurrucucú addresses the iconography of the exotic and the popular through the figure of the carrier pigeon. Aleatoris Vulgaris plays with chance and classification, questioning how we organize and assign meaning to images. Together, the work invites us to rethink photography not only as a record of the real, but as a space for narrative construction where the archive becomes raw material for the imagination.
Main themes
- The dual nature of photography: document versus fiction.
- The archive as a creative and narrative resource.
- Reinterpretation of history and visual memory.
- Chance and classification as artistic tools.
- Boundaries between reality and invention in contemporary imagery.
Who is it recommended for?
This catalog is aimed at photography professionals and enthusiasts, students of art and visual disciplines, as well as researchers and cultural managers interested in contemporary artistic practices. It will also be of interest to readers looking for a critical reflection on the role of the archive and documentation in current artistic creation.
What this book contributes
- Access to three complete photographic projects by an artist awarded the National Photography Prize.
- A documented reflection on creative processes that combine reality and fiction.
- Reference material for the study of contemporary photography and archive theory.
- A carefully crafted 499-page edition that allows for a detailed analysis of each series.
Technical specifications
- Author: Cristina de Middel
- Publisher: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. Publications Department
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Photography and photographers; Library, archive, and information management
- Collection: Archives and Libraries
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: June 2019
- Number of pages: 499
- Weight: 2431 g
Editorial review
This is a reference publication for those who follow the work of Cristina de Middel or wish to delve into the intersections between documentary photography and fictional narrative. Its focus on the archive as artistic material makes it a useful tool for both creative practice and academic research. The edition, backed by a cultural institution, guarantees a rigorous and visually polished treatment of the exhibition's contents.