Cusco Through the Lens of Martin Chambi

Cusco Through the Lens of Martin Chambi, Aracari Travel

Martin Chambi Photography in Cusco 

Martin Chambi was one of the first prominent indigenous Latin American photographers known for his dramatic black and white portraits and landscapes of the Peruvian Andes and its peoples. Chambi was not only able to gain access to the lives of those he documented but depicted and forever immortalized their daily lives, triumphs, struggles, passions and fears through photography. You can visit Martin Chambi’s permanent archives in Cusco with Aracari, and on a recent visit to Cusco I had the opportunity to see a one-off exhibition of his work.

Cusco Photography Exhibition

Now through October 19th oversized prints of Chambi’s images are on display across Cusco’s historic district, juxtaposed against the modern hustle and bustle of the emerging Andean city. The striking black and white images are presented in front of or alongside the actual streets and buildings they depict, allowing passersby to appreciate just how much Cusco has evolved in the last century. The exposition, an initiative of the Martin Chambi Photographic Archives in conjunction with Dartmouth College, showcases thirty two of Chambi’s prints in total and has already generated a resounding response from locals and foreigners alike.

As I am currently on a trip for Aracari in Cusco, I had the chance to walk around and see this public Martin Chambi exhibit. The images are evocative, and what I especially love is that it brings art to the people. Just today I came across about 10 of the prints and always found at least a few people studying the images, and in some cases, small crowds were discussing which part of the street the image depicted. It is a unique way to bring the work of Martin Chambi, one of Cusco’s most famous residents, to the people of Cusco and to visitors who may have never heard of the photographer.

Visit the permanent Martin Chambi Archives in Cusco

For a more exclusive look into the life and work of Martin Chambi, Aracari offers guests the opportunity to view the unique collection of original photographs equipment and personal notes of the influential photographer with a special access visit to the Martin Chambi archives in Cusco, led by Teo Allain.

Contact us for more information on visiting the Martin Chambi archives as part of a private, tailormade trip to Peru.

Related Post

 Your Guide To Navigating The Salar de Uyuni Salar de Uyuni is one of the most striking natural sites in the world. Formed more than 40,000 years ago, the salt flats expand across 10,582 square k...
 La Diablada: Colorful Dance of La Candelaria Festival in Puno Festivals in Peru, La Diablada At this time of year in Peru, many colorful festivals begin leading up to Holy Week. One of the most famous takes plac...
 The Spanish conquest of the Incas The key to Spanish success during the conquest of the Incas Just 169 soldiers accompanied Francisco Pizarro as he campaigned from northern Peru throu...
 Cusco Culinary Experience: Urban Eats by Day Nestled into the Andean Highlands, Cusco is perfectly positioned to tap into a wide array of the country’s natural produce. As specialists in culinary...
 The Galapagos Islands: Destination Update The Galapagos Islands is a keystone of the experiences that Aracari can offer, and there has been a lot going on recently. We talked with Galapagos sp...
 Hiking the Gran Caverna Path at Huayna Picchu to the Temple of the Mo... Machu Picchu Luxury trips During my tour of Machu Picchu, our guide pointed to Huayna Picchu, the mountain that overlooks the citadel, and said, “Do ...