2017 Colombia-France Year and Photographic Bogota

Presidents François Hollande (France) and Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia) agreed on choosing 2017 as the year for celebrating the binational program known as "The Colombia-France Year." The event aims at developing and diversifying the relationship between both nations, opening new spheres of cooperation and showcasing the strengths of both nations. It is a time for exchanges involving different sectors, including the cultural, scientific, artistic, and institutional ones. "The Colombia-France Year" represents a great opportunity for both nations to share the very best of their artistic, educational, gastronomical, and technological productions, among many others, as well as to strengthen their friendship and cooperation. With this in mind, FOTOMUSEO and its governing board headed by Gilma Suárez, is also pleased to join the celebrations during this important year by having France as the guest country for Photographic Bogota 2017. There are many heritage, visual arts, and digital art exhibitions shown in different cities throughout Colombia and France, including: Barranquilla, Bogota, Cali, Cartagena, Manizales, Medellin, and Paris. Here, we will highlight some of the venues featuring some of the exhibitions that are representative of both countries and of Photographic Bogota. The Museo de Arte Miguel Urrutia (MAMU) in Bogota, and the Centro Cultural of the Banco de la República in Manizales, present the happening and video selection titled "Hicham Berrada, Between Science and Art." The MAMU also feature "And Here Is Light," an exhibition that brings together three generations of French artists to explore the scopic systems created by them based on devices for the production and projection of images—the image in all of its forms, from virtuality to materialization. Also in the context of Photographic Bogota and the Colombia-France Year, the exhibition titled "Henri Cartier-Bresson" consists of 133 emblematic black and white photographs by this French photographer that illustrate the evolution of his work, from his developmental years as a surrealist to the poetic record of his peregrinations throughout the world. This exhibition allows visitors to discover a body of work that is fundamental for the understanding of the history of photography of the 20th century and the construction of modernity. The Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogota (MAMBO) hosts the "French Pavilion" with the exhibitions: "France (s) Liquid Territory," "Agora (s)," and "Arles in Bogota." The central theme shared by the three shows is the "Territory" observed through photography, video, and group creation. The Museo Nacional de Colombia in partnership with the Musée de Cluny (France), present in Colombia: "Art and Nature in the Middle Ages." Through sixty pieces created between the 12th century and the beginning of the 16th century, visitors will learn about the essential characteristics of medieval art and its relationship with nature and the manner in which the natural world was represented for four centuries. Among the works on display, six tapestries showcase the characteristically rich treatment of weaves practiced during the Middle Ages, depicting images that tell stories and show aspects of everyday life. Also included in the exhibition, four scrolls show another of the techniques that were characteristic of the Medieval Period: the inclusion of decorative elements on the edges of the scrolls to complement the text; a process that often involved the use of gold and silver. Lastly, the show also includes stained glass windows that remind us of cathedrals from the romantic and gothic periods. The pieces come from different regions of Europe: France, the Germanic countries, Italy, and Spain. With two venues, the Museo de Bogota partici...