Cristina de Middel
Spanish photographer (born 1975)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cristina de Middel (born 1975) is a Spanish-Belgian documentary photographer and artist living and working in Uruapan, Mexico.[1][2] She is a full member of Magnum Photos and her work is held in the Tate collection.[3]
Cristina de Middel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 (age 50–51) Alicante, Spain |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Photography |
| Notable work | The Afronauts |
| Awards | Publication – International Center of Photography Infinity Award 2013 The Afronauts |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
De Middel was born in Alicante, Spain. She is half-Belgian, half-Spanish.[4][5]
She graduated with a M.A. in Photography from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, USA in 2000; with a M.A. in Fine Arts from the Technical University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain in 2001; and with a Postgraduate Degree in Photojournalism from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain in 2002.[6]
Life and work
De Middel spent ten years working as a photojournalist at a Spanish newspaper. She left in 2012 to pursue personal projects.[7][8]
She self-published The Afronauts in 2012, a photobook about the short-lived Zambian space program in Southern Africa. The book explored the history of the failed 1960s space program through staged re-enactments, challenging "viewers' perceptions about what's real and what's not."[9][10][11] She was nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for The Afronauts.[12]
In 2017 she became a nominee member of Magnum Photos and in 2022 became a full member.[13][14] In June 2022, she became the first Spaniard to be elected president of Magnum.[15] That year, she participated in the Fall 2022 pre-collection by Alexander McQueen, an initiative involving 12 female artists from around the world, including Marcela Correa and Hope Gangloff.[16][17]
In Journey to the Center (2024), De Middel documented the caravans of migrants who travelled through Mexico from its southern border with Guatemala to Felicity, a small town in California.[18]
Publications
Publications by De Middel
- The Afronauts. London: Self-published, 2012. ISBN 9788461585960. Edition of 1000 copies.
- Second edition. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True, 2016. Edition of 1500 copies.
- Vida Y Milagros de Paula P (Life and Miracles of Paula P). Alicante, Spain: Museo de la Universidad de Alicante, 2009. Edition of 500 copies. Spanish. Early work featuring the "real story of a fake prostitute" Paula P.
- SPBH Book Club Vol III. London: Self Publish, Be Happy, 2013. Edition of 500 copies. ASIN B00D18UQ0C.
- Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung. Madrid: RM; London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2013. ISBN 9788415118671. Edition of 1500 copies.
- Afronauts. Zine Collection 12. Paris: Edition Bessard, 2014. ISBN 979-10-91406-02-4. Edition of 300 copies.
- This is What Hatred Did. Mexico; Barcelona: RM Editorial / London: Archive of Modern Conflict, 2015. ISBN 9780992941383. With text by Amos Tutuola, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts".
- Sharkification. São Paulo, Brazil: Editora Madalena, 2015. ISBN 9788569557074. Edition of 100 copies.
- Man Jayen. Pamplona, Spain: Trama, 2015. ISBN 978-84-8081-473-7. Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Museum of the University of Navarra. Edition of 1000 copies.
- Cucurrucucu. Bilbao, Spain: This Book Is True; self-published, 2016. ISBN 978-84-16282-65-4. With a text by Cuauhtémoc Medina.
- The Perfect Man. Madrid, Spain: Editorial La Fabrica, 2017. ISBN 9788417048396.
- Jungle Check Barcelona, Spain: Editorial RM, 2018. ISBN 978-84-17047-71-9.
- Midnight at the Crossroads Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2018.
- Preparados, Listos, Archivo. Madrid, Spain: Spanish Ministry of Culture, 2018. ISBN 978-84-8181-724-9
- Gentlemen's Club Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023. ISBN 9788448268459
- The Kabuler Bilbao, Spain: This Book is True; self-published, 2023.
- Journey to the Center. RM, 2024. ISBN 9788410290006.
Publications about de Middel
- Cristina de Middel. Colleción PHotoBolsillo. Madrid: La Fábrica, 2015. ISBN 978-8416248230.
Awards
- 2013: Nominated, Deutsche Börse Photography Prize for The Afronauts[12]
- 2013: Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography[19]
- 2014: Party: Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung won PhotoEspaña's Best Photography Book, international category award[20]
- 2020: Prix Virginia, award for female photographers, for Journey to the Center[18]
Exhibitions
- Close Enough: New Perspectives from 12 Women Photographers of Magnum, International Center of Photography, New York, 2022[21]
