ALBERTO KORDA

'Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez', better known as 'Alberto Korda' (September 14, 1928 – May 25, 2001) was a Cuban photographer, famous for his photo of Che Guevara.

Contents

Biography

Individuals Exhibitions

Collectives Exhibitions

Awards

Collections

External links

Biography

Korda was born in Havana, the son of a railway worker, and took many jobs before beginning as a photographer's assistant for unusual reasons. "My main aim was to meet women", he once confessed. He did succeed in his aim. His second wife, Natalia (Norka) Menendez, became the first Cuban fashion model.
He was a photographer for the Cuban newspaper ''Revolución'' in 1960 when he produced the iconic image of Che Guevara that became a worldwide symbol of revolution and rebellion. He never received any royalties for the image, although in 2000 he sued Smirnoff over the use of the image in advertisement. Commenting on the illicit use of his photograph, the artist said, "As a supporter of the ideals for which Che Guevara died, I am not averse to its reproduction by those who wish to propagate his memory and the cause of social justice throughout the world, but I am categorically against the exploitation of Che's image for the promotion of products such as alcohol, or for any purpose that denigrates the reputation of Che". His out-of-court settlement of US $50,000 was donated to the Cuban healthcare system. He said, "If Che were still alive, he would have done the same."
After the revolution, Korda became Fidel Castro's personal photographer for 10 years. From 1968 to 1978 he concentrated on underwater photography until a Japanese exhibition in 1978 stimulated international interest in his work. He appeared briefly in the pre-title sequence of Wim Wenders' film ''Buena Vista Social Club'' in 1999, although he was uncredited. In 2005, four years after his death, Alberto Korda starred as the protagonist in a full feature documentary entitled, ''Kordavision'', directed by Hector Cruz Sandoval.
Korda suffered a fatal heart attack in Paris in 2001 while presenting an exhibition of his work. He is buried in the Colon Cemetery, Havana.

Individuals Exhibitions

He had showed his works at many places like Helsinki, Finlandia in 1962 In 1985 in the Gallería H. Diafragma Canon, Milano, Italy; In 1986, Galería Servando Cabrera, Havana ; 2000, Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, EE.UU.

Collectives Exhibitions

Among the numerous colectives exhibitons of his works we can mention : In 1962, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, La Habana, Cuba; In 1967, ''"Expo’67"'', Pabellón Cubano, Montreal, Canada; 1980, Consejo Mexicano de Fotografía, México, D.F., y Centro de Arte Internacional, Havana, Cuba; 1983 Westbeth Gallery, Nueva York, EE.UU.; 1999, Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales, Havana, Cuba; 2002, Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, EE.UU.

Awards

He had gained the Palma de Plata in 1959. He was also named the Best Photoreporter of the year, Revolución Journal, Havana, 1960_1963 ; In 1979 he was 5th International Award of Submarine Photografie "Maurizio Sana”, Italia; 1982, He also was distinguish with the Distintión For the National Culture , Consejo de Estado, República de Cuba; 1994.

Collections

His works are exposed in Casa de las Américas, Havana, Cuba; Center for Cuban Studies, Nueva York, EE.UU., Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione,Parma University, Parma, Italia, Fototeca de Cuba,Havana, Cuba, Galleria IF, Milán, Italia, Galleria Il Diafragma Kodak, Milán, Italia, Maison de la Culture de la Sein Saint Dennis, París, Francia, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cub

External links

★ Cuban Art Directory

★ Biography at Netssa.com

★ BBC News report on his death

★ La página de Alberto Korda (interview conducted by Ciro Bianchi Ross)

★ Alberto Korda en La Patria Grande

★ The story of the Korda's image of Che Guevara

★ Frontline - On Alberto Korda, the photographic chronicler of the Cuban revolution.

★ Contemporary Cuban Art