Hispanic Heritage Month

The “golden age” of Mexican cinema shines again at new McNichols exhibit

A visual feast for photo and movie lovers, this traveling show gains new meaning when paired with the Biennial of the Americas.

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"Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building, part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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"Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building, part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

On Thursday an exhibit onĀ Gabriel Figueroa, perhaps Mexico’s most famous cinematographer, opens at the McNichols building as the Biennial of the Americas also begins.

While “Under the Mexican Sky: Gabriel Figueroa, Art and Filmā€ is a travelingĀ show, its display in conjunction with the BiennialĀ emphasizes howĀ the Mexican andĀ American “golden ages” of cinema wereĀ intertwined. It’s an apt artistic venture for those interested in the Biennial’s mission to show how culture and economics inĀ the western hemisphereĀ may be inseparable.

A portrait of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at work, part of "Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit that's part of the Biennial of the Americas at the McNichols Building. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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A portrait of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at work is pasted onto a wall at the McNichols building. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Through December 23, on the third floor of the McNichols building, towering movie projections and enlarged frames from Figueroa’s workĀ transform the space intoĀ a cathedral of imagery. A young Clint Eastwood rests aĀ hand on his holster, a man with arms outstretched stands atop a tower surrounded by an endless desert,Ā Dia de los Muertos skeleton puppets danceĀ beneath hanging strings.Ā Upon entering, audiences are awash with sights and sounds.

As he worked on Tuesday night to ready the exhibit, co-curator Alfonso MoralesĀ saidĀ theseĀ images and symbols not only spurredĀ a golden age in Mexican cinema, theyĀ also contributed to the creation of modern Mexican identity through film.

With 50 years of Figueroa’s work under one roof, he said, the exhibition is aĀ “compendium of the Mexican history of cinema.ā€

Alfonso Morales, co-curator of "Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building and part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Alfonso Morales, co-curator of "Under the Mexican Sky," points out Figueroa's early work as a still photographer on Mexican movie sets. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

His careerĀ began during an explosion of filmmaking in Mexico that was due, in part, to the United States’ involvement in World War II. As American filmmaking took a backseat to the war effort, the creative void left by Hollywood’s absence gave Mexican artists a chance to flood the hemisphere with new work.

Figueroa’s style, in turn, was informed by Hollywood’s own golden era. He spent some time working for American filmmakers as he learned the craft, most notably becoming the apprentice of Gregg Toland, a favorite of Orson Welles who worked on the legendary “Citizen Kane.” Figueroa, Morales said, broughtĀ Hollywood ideas backĀ home and imbued them with MexicanĀ heritage to create what the curator calls aĀ ā€œnew movement in cinema.”

As the two countries’Ā cinematic legacies grew, Figueroa was called upon to shoot his home country for American directors and actors including Eastwood in “Two Mules for Sister Sarah” and Henry Fonda in “The Fugitive.”

Images of Clint Eastwood (left) in "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" and Dolores del RĆ­o and Henry Fonda in "The Fugitive," examples of Figureroa's work in America's golden age of cinema. "Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building, part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Images of Clint Eastwood (left) in "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" and Dolores del RĆ­o and Henry Fonda in "The Fugitive," examples of Figureroa's work in American filmmaking. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

His careerĀ would stretch into surrealism and pop art, bring him to work with equally important directors and generate numerous awards, including an Oscar nomination. “Los Olvidados,” or “The Young and the Damned,” would be the second film ever recognized by UNESCO as a “Memory of the World.”

If you like movies or photography, this free exhibit is a feast for the eyes and well worth a visit. If you’re interested in the Biennial of the Americas, there’s lots to appreciate in that Figueroa’sĀ work touched cinematic development on both sides of the border.

Mauricio Maillé, director of arts at Visuzles de Fundatición Televisa, inside "Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Mauricio Maillé, director of arts at Visuzles de Fundatición Televisa, works as "Under the Mexican Sky" is installed. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

And Alfonso Morales agrees. Filmmaking is an ā€œinternational language,ā€ he said. “There are no borders in cinema.ā€

The BiennialĀ was created toĀ “recognize and build upon the important economic and cultural ties in the Americas,” according to its website.

An exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building, part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Massive enlargements of film from "La Perla," an adaptation of a John Steinbeck story released in 1945. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Color pop art by Gabriel Figueroa from the 1960s. "Under the Mexican Sky" at the McNichols Building, part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Color pop art by Gabriel Figueroa from the 1960s. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Alfonso Morales (left) and HƩctor Orozco, curators of "Under the Mexican Sky," an exhibit on the work of cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa at the McNichols Building and part of the Biennial of the Americas. Sept. 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

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Curators Alfonso Morales (left) and Héctor Orozco, in "Under the Mexican Sky" during installation. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Want some more? Explore other Hispanic Heritage Month stories.

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Denverite members have made the decision to financially support local journalism that matters to you. Ready to tell your networks why? Sharing our ā€œAboutā€ page with your own personal comments could really help us out.