Paz Errázuriz Exhibition Opens at MK Gallery, Showcasing Decades of Chilean Life
London, UK – [Current Date] – Chilean photographer Paz Errázuriz, known for her unflinching documentation of marginalized communities and the impact of the Pinochet dictatorship, is set to have her first solo UK exhibition at MK Gallery. Titled “Paz Errázuriz: Dare to Look – Hidden Realities of Chile,” the exhibition will run from July 19 to october 5, 2025, presenting a comprehensive look at her work from the 1970s to the present day.
ErrázurizS career has been marked by her ability to capture the essence of her subjects, frequently enough in challenging circumstances. She recalls the mercurial nature of the dictatorship, recounting an instance in 1987 when she began documenting the city’s boxing community. Initially deemed “innocuous,” her access to the training grounds was denied due to a rule prohibiting women. Errázuriz, however, managed to gain entry through “imaginative arguments.”
Her previous UK showing was in the group exhibition “Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins” at the Barbican in London, where her work was displayed alongside international luminaries such as Bruce Davidson, Diane Arbus, and Larry Clark. errázuriz expressed her fondness for Britain, especially noting the global recognition of Pinochet’s human rights violations when he was placed under house arrest in Surrey in 1998. She views England’s stance as a pivotal moment, stating, “That was the real fall of a dictator.” Pinochet’s eventual release after 16 months, facilitated by then-Home Secretary Jack Straw on health grounds, remains a contentious point in his history.
Despite the risks, including widespread poverty and crime in contemporary Santiago, Errázuriz continues to photograph, albeit now using her smartphone for safety. She acknowledges the increased intensity of modern-day protests and the potent effects of teargas, noting its difference from that used 40 years prior.
Reflecting on Chile’s progress, Errázuriz emphasizes the meaning of dismantling the dictatorship as a primary achievement. However, she admits that the country has not fully realized the aspirations of its people, describing the current reality as “difficult in Chile, really. It’s not exactly what we dreamed of.” Despite these challenges,her passion for photography remains undimmed. “When I choose who I’m going to photograph, it’s becuase, somehow, I like that person. I reflect myself in them. I learn from them,” she shares, her face lighting up at the prospect.
The exhibition at MK Gallery is organized by Fundación MAPFRE in collaboration with MK Gallery.
