The popular festival. Mexico. Circa 1950.

Gelatin silver print, measures 16.7 x 11.4 cm / 6.57 x 4.48 in. Behind, the author's wet stamp, oval: "NACHO LÓPEZ MÉXICO D. F".

Since time immemorial, fireworks and “cuetes” -so called in Mexico- were a basic element of joy and emotion in civic or religious festivals and they continue to be so today in the same traditions of Western cultures as those of the Eastern world. The fireworks guilds organized the festive "castles" that summoned the people or even prepared the carriages and monuments during the year that would be cremated as is currently the case with the Valencian "fallas". Throughout Mexico, a reason for popular entertainment, this custom remained in force since viceregal times and dodging prohibitions and accidental fires; for some it was a profession and for all, a reason for joy. Nacho López's camera registers emotion, surprise and joy in the faces and gestures of those children in a chaos of lights and shadows.

Ignacio López Bocanegra (1923-1986), Nacho López, was the photographer of the deep Mexico of indigenous communities, popular sectors and their traditions, habits and customs. Photojournalist, from an independent position he made his photographic essays that were published in the national media, such as Hoy, Mañana and Tiempo magazines. In his evolution as a photographer, he became an excellent urban chronicler, explored and portrayed Mexicanity from the everyday, with essays loaded with his particular gaze, such as "Mexico: pain and blood, passion and soul", and "Mystical Mexico ”. His photography is artistic, but not solemn, but playful.

EMM