Viva México by James Wilson

Artist Statement: Viva México

This body of work represents a twenty-year photography exploration of Mexico, focusing deeply on central Mexico area. Through annual visits there, I have documented the vibrant pulse of everyday life, capturing a vast archive of images that span from the bustling, historic streets of San Miguel de Allende to remote rural outposts. As a fine art photographer and educator, these images are a natural spin-off from the photo workshops I lead in Mexico, This is only my second exhibit born from my deep love for the unpredictable energy of street photography. Visually It’s a far cry from my other photography passions, local landscapes or black and white portraits.

“Viva México” captures a distinct sense of nostalgia unique to central Mexico, where modern life still carries a cinematic atmosphere and slower rhythm of the 1960s. My camera encounters traditional Mexican life remaining resilient in this timeless environment: artisans selling wares on stone streets, families gathered around evening food vendors, and communities united in intense religious celebration. Woven tightly through both the urban and rural landscapes is the region's enduring cowboy culture, an iconic identity that asserts itself in local bars, desert fields, and bus stops alike.

Working exclusively in digital colour, I use the intense Mexican sunlight and its corresponding heavy shadows to create a raw, high-contrast intensity. Every photo in this exhibition was printed by myself to ensure the rich tonal palette and deep shadows translate precisely to the final physical print.

Biography

James Wilson has been an artist working in the medium of photography for more than 40 years. James works from his heritage home and natural light studio in the beautiful Kennebecasis River Valley near Hampton New Brunswick, Canada. He is best known for his large colour Landscapes and black and white studio portraits. His portraits are taken in his 19th century style custom built studio using a large north-light window as a light source.

James’ work involves digital photography and traditional silver photography. Although most of his work is straight camera imaging, James does experiment in image layering, textures and camera movement to create images that challenge the emotions. He has had 22 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibits, both internationally and throughout Canada. His large-scale panoramic landscapes, figurative work, and Studio still lifes have been most popular with collectors. His photographs have been purchased for both public and corporate collections, and are in private collections nationally and internationally. Six large landscape prints were chosen for Canadian Embassies in the Netherlands, Algeria and the Canadian Consulate in New York City.

For 15 years James has been hosting photography photo workshops in Italy, Mexico and Japan.  This gives him the opportunity to share his photographic knowledge with others while they have a cultural experience at the same time.

In 2020 Wilson’s black and white portraits were published in a hardcover book titled “Social Studies” by Goose Lane Editions and doubled as a catalogue for the large scale travelling print exhibition of the same name. This was the result of a 25 year project photographing New Brunswick people from all walks of life in his studio with natural light.  Portrait prints from this project are in the permanent collections of the National Gallery in Ottawa and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in New Brunswick.

Other publications: 

Redeemed - publisher Goose Lane Editions, 2012

Portraits of NB Painters - publisher New Brunswick Museum 2010