Luis Barragan: Visit Mexico City

While traveling through Mexico City at the beginning of this year, I was delighted to learn about an architect that had yet to come onto my radar, Luis Barragan. The first property we visited was his actual residence and was kept in the way in which Barragan lived up until his passing in 1988. I so much enjoyed seeing all the books he would read, the art he surrounded himself with, and the way in which he kept his garden. Josef Albers is one of my favorite artists, and it was a true delight to discover Barragan and Albers were friends for two decades of Barragan’s life. I loved seeing an Albers’ painting in his home, but moreover it quickly became apparent to me just how big of an influence Albers had on Barragan. Walking through Barragan’s home was almost like walking through an Albers’ painting. In Barragan’s work, he created dramatic vertical planes through the manipulation of light that gave the viewer a very distinct line between the foreground, middle ground, and left to the imagination the view beyond. This is exactly what it feels like to look at a Josef Albers painting. It was invigorating to be traveling again, and therefore given the opportunity to discover more of what inspires you. And to learn about who inspires those that inspire you. Cheers to more discovery in 2022!

References: 

CASA LUIS BARRAGÁN

The Josef & Anni Albers Foundation

Words & Photos: Christie Lambert