Mexico, 1957.
She studied Visual Arts at the Old Academy of San Carlos (UNAM). She was especially interested in her teacher Kati Horna’s work throughout her course; Horna's personality, together with the magical and expressive dimension of her photography, had a strong impact on the development of Flor's work. She perfected her photographic skills through a couple of different focuses: by delving into printing processes like palladium platinum and by printing her photographic portfolios in silver on gelatin, and by working as an assistant in Manuel Álvarez Bravo's camera obscura. She worked for the Secretary of Public Education under the direction of Mariana Yampolsky; thus, she visited the most remote rural areas of Mexico to find appropriate topics for bilingual literacy books. This experience gave Flor the opportunity to get to know her country and the life of her indigenous peoples while simultaneously helping her develop her own style.
Photographer, passionate seeker and visionary of creativity, Flor Garduño is an outstanding representative of the richness and diversity of Mexican photography. Since her youth, she has developed her own style and sought the profound truth of the Mexican countryside, venturing into still life, the female nude, portraiture, and architecture, always in a perpetual search for the subtle boundaries of the imaginary; a portrait of the roots of magical cultures. The bridge between the present moment and the centuries that have passed lies in the eyes of those that have witnessed them--the water, trees, earth, and air. By incorporating these powerful natural elements in her photography, Flor evokes the presence of indigenous America’s horizons and suns. Flor makes her own rules, continually aiming to elicit some deep emotion. With the framework of her photography built, Flor perseveres in the task of taking photos that not only reveal but rather capture a place of revelation.
Collections · Her work belongs to multiple collections; some highlights are: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA; The Museum of Fine Arts of Houston, TX, USA; The Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, AZ, USA; The Museum of Modern Art, Mexico City, Mexico; The National Library of France, Paris, France; The Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Germany; among many other public and private collections.
Awards · Flor has received scholarships from the Federal Fund of Culture from Bern, Switzerland on two separate occasions (1990 and 1993). She participated in Mexico’s National System of Creators from 1994 to 2001. She has been a judge for various organizations: for La Caixa in Barcelona, Spain (1996), for the Press Photo Award in Geneva, Switzerland (1998), for the National Photography Prize in Bogotá, Colombia (2001), and for the Montblanc Culture Arts Patronage Awards (2016). She won mentions for her exhibit Witnesses of time from the Krasna-Krausz Foundation Photography Awards (1994) and for Silent natures from the Independent Publication Awards in New York, USA (2006). In 2010 she received photographic support from the Program for the Development of Cultural Projects and Joint Ventures. She won TV-film (biography/documentary) from Elanimage in co-production with Canal Once, Mexico and Prodest Communications, Rome, Italy (2000).
Publications · Magic of the Eternal Game, published by Ediciones Guchachi 'Reza, Juchitán, Oaxaca, México. A project presented at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico. Bestiarium, published by U. Bär Verlag, Zürich, Switzerland; Edizione Argentum, Stabio, Switzerland. Flor Garduño, Fotografin. Das Zweite Gesicht (Flor Garduño, photographer) The other side: I Custodi Del Tempo, Airone magazine, Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori, Anno XII, Number 132, April 1992. Witnesses of Time published in five languages and seven editions: Braus, Heidelberg, Germany, (German), Thames and Hudson Ltd. London, England, (English), Thames and Hudson Inc. New York, United States, (English), Motta Editore, Milan, Italy, (Italian), Redacta SA, DF, Mexico, (Spanish), Helvetas, Zürich, Switzerland, (German), Arthaud, Paris, France, (French), Mesteños, photographs of horses and North American Indians, published by Schellenberger, Frauenfeld, Switzerland, America Magazine, 229, Juli, 1994, Portfolio: Flor Garduño, Antwerp, Belgium 1996. Mummenschanz, Tobler Verlag, Altstätten, Switzerland (sold out), commemorative book 1998. Garduño flower portraits, vus comme des autoportraits par Antonio Ria, Connaissance Des Arts, Art Magazine, No .552 juillet-août 1998, France 1999. Esga rds Distants General Student of the University of Valencia: IVAM Center Julio González, April 29-June 27, 1999. Spain. Witnesses of Time, reissued by Aperture, New York, United States (Spanish and English versions). 2002. Inner Light published by Bulfinch Press, New York / Boston, United States. Flor, (European version of Inner Light), published by Lunwerg, Madrid, Spain (Spanish); Peliti Associati, Rome, Italy (Italian); Braus, Heidelberg, Germany (German). Silent Natures, catalog published by Gabriele Capelli Editore, Mendrisio, Switzerland. The Sonnets of William Shakespeare, published by 21 St. Publishers of fine art, Boston, United States. Fantastic Women, catalog published by Thessa Harold Gallery, Paris, France. Trilogy, a compilation of work on the occasion of his 30 years of work as a photographer. published by: Contrasto, Roma / Milan, Italy (Italian and English), Ediciones Tecolote, DF, Mexico, (Spanish), Benteli Verlag, Bern, Switzerland, (German). Los Ojos del Tiempo, sixth edition of the Mexican Photography agenda. Flor Garduño, Photo Poche, published by Robert Delpire and Actes-Sud (Arles, France).
