User:Anonartist15/Louis Carlos Bernal

Louis Carlos Bernal (August 18, 1941 – August 18, 1993) was a Chicano photographer whose works focused on social expression and developing a visual narrative. Born in Douglas, Arizona, Bernal was said to "grew up very aware of his identity and formed an interest in social justice and Chicanx pride" because of the racism that he had to face. As Bernal continued to explore who he was growing up, he found himself attracted to art and eventually devoted himself to the world of photography. From here, he attended Arizona State University where he earned his Masters of Fine Art degree. Afterwards, he was offered a position to teach at Pima Community College in Tucson and throughout his time there he continued his works and while still focusing on the Chicanx community.

His Works
Bernal's works not only started with the concept of wanting to embrace his identity, but continued to develop as he delved more into the environment and community that was built from being Chicanx. He was considered to be the father of Chicanx photography because he was one of the first to approach his work as a Chicano and an artist. Bernal's works and narratives centered around capturing people in their most intimate and humble surroundings. In a collaborative book called Louis Carlos Bernal: Barrios, it comprises both essays from people who knew Bernal personally as well as some of his photographs and series. Each essay mentions how Bernal put forth the emotions he was feeling, whether it was anger, sadness, hope, frustration, etc., into his photos because he felt a need to show that there is so much to the community in which he groups up in and one cannot isolate themself from it.

During the 1960s and 1970s with the Chicano Movement bringing artists together to showcase the importance of the Chicanx community, Bernal's works were contributing heavily to that. In regards to one of his most popular series, Barrios encapsulates the different aspects that comprised Chicanx identity. It contains 30 photographs that takes viewers attention to the people and objects in their home or whatever they were surrounded by. These were taken in the Southwest and rather than the photos being viewed as a sort of documentation of the Chicanx lifestyle, it opened up the concept of interpretation. As Bernal's works get compared to other photographers during the Chicano Movement, it is evident that his style was very different when one usually thinks of social movements, protests, and politics.