Photo: Bob Schalkwijk

By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS    

A temporary exhibit of 30 photographs of Mexico taken by Dutchman Bob Schalkwijk is now on display at the National Museum of Cultures, located at Moneda 13 in the Centro Histórico.

The photographs, taken between 1959 and 1974, during which time Schalkwijk resided in Mexico, embark a wide range of topics, particularly traditional indigenous community scenes and images of political upheaval and early urban development.

Nicknamed the Flying Dutchman, Schalkwijk was born in Rotterdam in 1933, but moved to Mexico at age 25, where he became fascinated with the local culture.

He still resides here today, although he travels around the globe to take pictures.

Schalkwijk has spent much of his time here in the Sierra Madre Occidental, where he has photographed Tarahumara people.

Schalkwijk has also conducted photographic studies of indigenous communities in Chiapas, Hidalgo and the Yucatan.

The collection on display at the National Museum of Cultures focuses on some of his lesser-known works, including images he took after the devastating 1985 earthquake in Mexico City.

The exhibit will remain on display through Feb. 18, 2018.