THE MOST BEAUTIFUL  BRIDES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA

This photographic essay focuses on the life of women of Tijuana´s middle and high classes. I observe their daily lives, their parties, their homes, their every day activities. I became involved with this subject matter because I grew up in this society, and after living abroad for several years, I became interested in returning to see and analyze through photographic images what I had left behind.

After two years since its beginning, the project became a quest inside of a social class not often portrayed in Mexico for a non-traditional use. An
observation from the inside: its gender responsibilities, class structure, exchange of status, its community formations, family life, etc, to learn of the way that this society wishes to be remembered,  and then challenge it.

I question  the image that this group has created for itself,  by finding other possibilities of moments not controlled by convention:  trying to observe behavior in more  natural environments and by enhancing moments and situations that perhaps could not always  be considered in this group as photogenic.

I am interested in the habits and rituals of this exclusive community, and I observe it  by participating in  their world, blending in by using the space I left  when I moved away.

Yvonne Venegas
Grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, studied in San Diego, Ca. and Mexico City before spending a year at  the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York.

In New York she assisted photographers as Dana Lixenberg, Juergen Teller and Bruce Weber.  Her work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, SPIN, Details and also in Zoom and Luna Cornea, from Mexico among others.
She has exhibited her work in Tijuana, Mexico City, New York, California, Madrid, Valencia and  Quebec.

In 2002 she won 1st prize in the Mexico City
Photo Bienal.  She is currently studying Visual Arts  / Media focus at University of California San Diego.

In 2004 the Alberta duPont Foundation, which recognizes excellence in the area of art and poetry, awarded Yvonne a personal grant that went towards funding her exhibition at the Casa de America in Madrid, Spain.

Contact Artist: yvonne_venegas@hotmail.com

Upcoming Exhibits: Fall 2005
Strange New World/Extrano Nuevo Mundo will be on view at both the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego and the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla.