Gaby Herbstein

La Diablada

MOSCOW CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE
MULTIMEDIA ART MUSEUM, MOSCOW

GABY HERBSTEIN
La Diablada

With the support of: Mastercard

As part of the XI Moscow International Biennnale ‘Fashion and Style in Photography 2019’, the Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow presents ‘La Diablada’, an exhibition by acclaimed Argentinian photographer Gaby Herbstein.

Gaby Herbstein has been taking photographs for 23 years, her projects drawing attention to the global challenges that confront mankind in the 21st century: above all problems of the ecology, as well as issues concerning the identity and preservation of cultural heritage among endangered peoples.

In 2009 Herbstein published her first photo album, ‘Aves del Paraíso’ (‘Birds of Paradise’). The book calls for solution of environmental problems that result in the extinction of many species. This was followed by the projects ‘Ecological Footprint’ (2009) and ‘Trash is Not Trash’ (2010), on the ecological instability of our planet; ‘UNO’ (2011), a project on unity with nature; the ‘Estados de Conciencia’ (‘States of Consciousness’, 2013) cycle in which Herbstein examines different stages of self-awareness; and the series ‘Divine Beauty’ (2015), where the artist analyses diverse aspects of beauty, all united by the theme of sacred geometry.

Gaby Herbstein’s new project allows visitors to immerse themselves in the extraordinary atmosphere of the national holiday La Diablada (Dance of the Demons), which is held annually in Jujuy, a province in the north of Argentina. This festival arose from a curious interweaving of native Indian and Spanish cultural traditions that became both a carnival and a religious mystery play.

According to the Andean worldview, Nature, Man and Mother Earth originated as one whole being. Trying to destroy this unity are the Demons, a collective image comprised from the Christian Devil, the terrible pagan spirit Anchanchu who dwells in dark caves, and the sinister deity Tiw from the underworld.

Unlike their European counterparts, these ‘local’ demons are not perceived as completely hostile forces by the indigenous people of the Andes. It is their belief that the right combination of sacrifices, costume and ritual may pacify them and benefit all participants in the ceremony.

Following ancient traditions, the inhabitants of this province dress in their devil costumes and join the carnival procession. La Diablada is a ritual immersion into darkness. Becoming one as a new entity, the army of dancing demons descends into the caves where there is no light, thereby cleansing themselves of everything bad that happened in the past year and giving thanks to the forces of nature for the gift of release and renewal.

The privilege of taking part in La Diablada is inherited. Preparation of the costume (new each time) takes a whole year. People often spend their entire savings on it, demonstrating readiness for self-sacrifice and purification to the higher powers.

La Diablada is not just a masquerade. The purpose of the holiday is to preserve traditions, pagan myths and legends that have passed from one generation to the next for centuries, but today could be lost.

Gaby Herbstein has won many prizes and awards, including the Gold Medal in the category Fine Art (People), Concept and Photography, and Silver Medal in the category Books-Fine Art at the Prix de la Photographie competition (Paris, 2015) for the ‘States of Consciousness’ project; the Clover Prize awarded by the Swarovski Co. to artists of note in the world of art, fashion, sport or science; the Best Book of the Year prize from Cámara Argentina de Publicaciones for the ‘Birds of Paradise’ album; and the Huésped Award for merits in a four-year educational campaign to combat the spread of HIV.