José Giribás Marambio

Chile, 1973: on September 11, General Augusto Pinochet staged a coup to overthrow the elected government led by Salvador Allende, bringing a violent end to the idea of democratic socialism. From that point on, terror and repression reigned. José Giribás Marambio (b. 1948 in Santiago de Chile) lived through these events as a member of the workers movement, a member of the opposition, and a photographer. In December 1973, he fled to Germany, where he made a new home for himself in Berlin. For over half a century, Giribás has repeatedly traveled to Chile with his camera to document a society shaped by the tension between political oppression, painful memories, and possibilities for democratic resistance. The resulting works have been exhibited worldwide and published in many renowned magazines and newspapers. Chile: Memories of my battered country is the first collection of his works, which are presented here together with a commentary.