A vast retrospective of Agnès Varda
The Barcelona Contemporary Culture Center (CCCB) is opening a new exhibition that celebrates the versatility and legacy of the prestigious French photographer, filmmaker and artist Agnès Varda, born in Brussels in 1928 and transferred to Paris in 2019. This exhibition, entitled “Agnès Varda. Photograph, film, recycle”, represents the most extensive retrospective dedicated to her work, resulting from the expansion of the “Vive Varda” initiative, created by the Cinémathèque Française in Paris. The collaboration between this institution and the CCCB has made it possible to add exclusive materials and include installations created by the artist, as well as small projection rooms that allow you to enjoy never-before-seen short films and an unpublished photographic report about his journey in Catalonia in 1955.
A journey through art
The exhibition reveals itself as a monumental work that reflects a rich and diverse career through multiple visual resources such as photographs, large-format screens, mini cinemas and art installations. It is vital to dedicate the necessary time to appreciate every nuance and detail it presents.
The uniqueness of Varda
Varda, with his exceptional versatility as a visual artist, transcended artistic boundaries and explored various disciplines, but his innovative style meant that his work was considered more elite than popular. This exhibition not only seeks to highlight his contribution to art, but also to correct the lack of recognition he suffered during his lifetime.
Opinions d’experts
Judit Carrera, director of the CCCB, emphasizes that Varda “possessed an insatiable curiosity and a multidisciplinary vision that pushed her to experiment continuously, dissolving the lines that separate documentation from fiction”. This phrase perfectly sums up the essence of his work, marked by a free and independent personality, which was always a committed and sensitive witness to human reality.
Beginning of her career as a photographer
Agnès began her career as a photographer at the age of 22, using large-format cameras that marked her style. A curious fact is that his first studio in Paris was on Rue Daguerre, a tribute to the father of photography. The images he captured during those years demonstrate his incredible artistic skill and innovation, with an approach that often evoked surrealist influences.
His photographic legacy
The exhibition reveals an impressive collection of his photographic work, including 27,000 negatives classified after his death. The images show his sharp photographic eye and his ability to capture the modernity that characterized his work, as well as his life experiences and endearing characters in his environment.
His cinematic legacy
Varda developed a visual narrative that reflected a wide range of emotions. His cinematographic work was situated in an ambiguous space between documentary and fiction, using a language that was undoubtedly a reflection of his photographic training. From 1948 to 1961, she worked as the official photographer of the Avignon International Theater Festival, where she captured the magic of the great actors of the time.
Life portraits
The works on display include portraits of his family, friends and other prominent figures of his time, as well as reports from his travels to Cuba, the United States and China. Among the most memorable images is a photographic project carried out in Girona, where he captured everyday life as he passed by and, especially, a portrait of Salvador Dalí in Cadaqués.
A relationship with exile
An emotional aspect of his work was his interaction with a family of Spanish exiles he met early in his career. Varda not only hosted them, but also photographed them and years later dedicated the installation “Ulysses” to them, a testament to their shared experiences.
Cinema as reflection
The themes Varda explored often strayed from conventional commercial patterns, making it difficult for her to connect with a mass audience. However, this did not diminish her determination to express herself through what she herself called “cinewriting”, a process that spanned from script writing to final editing.
Pioneer in a new cinema
Her ability to adapt to technological changes positioned her as a pioneer among filmmakers of the Nouvelle Vague. Although Varda was linked to this cinematic movement, her role has often been forgotten or misrecognized. He signed more than 40 films and, despite his legacy, recognition came late with significant awards such as the Golden Lion at the 1985 Venice Film Festival, the Honorary César 2001, the Palme d’Or at the Festival of Cannes 2015 and an honorary Oscar in 2019.
Exhibition and projections
The exhibition offers a rich audiovisual program, including twenty screenings that accumulate more than an hour of representative fragments of his work. In the CCCB’s mini cinemas, visitors can enjoy seven short documentary films that allow them to take advantage of the depth and uniqueness of their cinematic approaches.
Social and personal commitments
The exhibition also highlights the committed personality of Varda, who lived in an environment of constant change and innovation. She made unconventional personal life decisions, including her relationship with filmmaker Jacques Demy, with whom she had two children. His daughter, Rosalie Varda, is currently the artistic director of the exhibition.
Feminist activism
Varda was also actively involved in social issues, advocating for women’s rights in the film community and reflecting on difficult realities through her films. His work “Los espigadores y la espigadora” from 2000 is a clear example of his commitment to the social causes that marked his career.
Latest creations and artistic influences
In her last years, Varda explored the world of installations, some of which were highlighted at the Venice Biennale in 2003. Her link with the world of art and painting is also appreciated, which influenced his visual works. The exhibition presents works by several artists with whom Varda maintained a close relationship, including Antoni Tàpies, Miquel Barceló, Joan Fontcuberta and Niki de Saint Phalle.
Conclusion: An immortal legacy
In short, the exhibition dedicated to Agnès Varda is not only a celebration of her art, but a tribute to a figure who has brought a new perspective to the cinematographic and visual universe. The diversity and depth of his work invite us to reflect on the importance of creativity in a world that often forgets the smallest voices. This exhibition allows us to discover the multiple aspects of a rich and, at the same time, little-recognized artistic personality, who deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
