Ebet Roberts abandonó el sueño de convertirse en una reconocida pintora para dedicar su vida a la fotografía, profesión que le ha permitido registrar en imágenes la historia del rock durante más de tres décadas.
David Bowie, Bob Marley, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, R.E.M., Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, James Brown, U2, Peter Gabriel y The Ramones son algunas de las leyendas musicales que ha captado la lente de Roberts. El viernes la fotógrafa inauguró su exposición "Los destellos del sonido. Fotografías de Ebet Roberts", la primera muestra de su trabajo en México.
"En realidad creo que la fotografía me eligió a mi. Abandoné mi natal Memphis para estudiar pintura en Nueva York en la década de 1970, y mi idea inicial era conjuntar ambas disciplinas así que me compre una cámara profesional. Un día vino un amigo músico, me propuso tomar fotos de su banda, y sin imaginarlo había llegado al lugar correcto", contó Roberts a The Associated Press.
Una vez dentro del mundo del rock, Roberts pudo ser testigo del auge que el movimiento punk tuvo en la escena neoyorquina a finales de la década de 1970, y logro establecer una relación profesional con iconos de ese género musical como Iggy Pop, Cindy Lauper, The Ramones y Sex Pistols.
"Mis primeras experiencias con una cámara fueron en el mítico CBGB's, aquel bar en Nueva York por el que pasaron los pilares del punk, y eso era muy emocionante. Era algo nuevo, y yo buscaba retratar toda esa energía y atractivo visual que tenía enfrente", recordó la artista durante la charla, previo a la inauguración de su exposición en el vestíbulo del Auditorio Nacional de la Ciudad de México.
La fotógrafa, que ha trabajado para publicaciones como Rolling Stone, Mojo, Spin, The New York Times y The Village Voice, consideró que, en su experiencia, ser mujer le dio una ventaja sobre otros fotógrafos musicales de la época.
"Era nueva en ese medio y muchos músicos me querían contratar, sobre todo por el hecho de ser mujer, quizá les inspiraba más confianza. Siempre traté de mantener una relación muy profesional, de mucho respeto con los músicos, y eso me permitió hacer buenos amigos como los integrantes de The Cars, y Robert Smith, vocalista de The Cure", dijo la artista.
Precisamente como fotógrafa personal de The Cure, Roberts visitó por primera vez México, cuando la banda británica ofreció un concierto en la ciudad de Monterrey, en 1992.
"Recuerdo aquella visita y lo entusiasta que fue el público esa noche. En verdad tengo lindos recuerdos. Me gustaría poder adentrarme más en la música mexicana, y en general en la música latina. El otro día escuché a Concha Buika y me encantó, desearía conocer más de la música hispana", expresó sobre la cantante afroespañola.
Roberts lamentó que la banda R.E.M. y Phil Collins, con los que tuvo oportunidad de trabajar en la década de 1980 y 1990, hayan tomado la decisión de retirarse de los escenarios.
"Me entristece que no exista más R.E.M. y que una figura como Phil Collins se haya retirado por problemas de salud. Es lamentable que en la actualidad la industria esté más interesada en artistas teatrales, que están más preocupados por la cuestión visual que en su música", opinó la estadounidense.
"Desafortunadamente la industria discográfica está más centrada en eso, en la teatralidad, en el dinero, la gente intenta hacer dinero a toda costa y la esencia de la música ha quedado relegada", agregó.
Roberts considera que hay mucha gente con propuestas interesantes pero que no tienen oportunidad de ser escuchadas por una industria bien consolidada, como la musical.
"Ahí es donde Internet actúa y nos brinda esa oportunidad de escuchar lo que las estaciones de radio o la televisión no nos imponen", dijo.
Aunque Roberts también cree que la nueva tecnología lleva a problemas que no se habían pensado antes, como el hecho de que cualquier persona con un teléfono celular o cámara digital se considere fotógrafo.
"Es grandioso que cualquiera tenga ahora acceso a una cámara fotográfica, pero la parte negativa viene cuando esas imágenes no poseen la calidad debida. Ahora todo es más fácil, pero sí me declaro en contra de un producto que no tiene las características adecuadas", dijo Roberts.
"Los destellos del sonido. Fotografías de Ebet Roberts" permanecerá abierta al público en la galería del vestíbulo del Auditorio Nacional hasta finales de abril.
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Phots of Keith Richards. Ebet Roberts presents his images on the trail of rockEbet Roberts abandoned the dream of becoming a recognized artist to devote his life to photography, profession that has allowed images recorded in rock history for over three decades.
David Bowie, Bob Marley, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, REM, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, James Brown, U2, Peter Gabriel and The Ramones are among the musical legends who has caught the lens of Roberts. On Friday, the photographer opened his exhibition "The flashes of sound. Ebet Roberts Photography", the first sample of his work in Mexico.
"I actually think that the picture he chose me. I left my native Memphis to study painting in New York in the 1970's, and my initial idea was to combine both disciplines so I bought a professional camera. One day, a musician friend I suggested taking pictures of his band, and not imagine it had come to the right place, "Roberts told The Associated Press.
Once inside the world of rock, Roberts was able to witness the boom that the punk movement was in the New York scene in the late 1970's, and achievement to establish a professional relationship with genre icons such as Iggy Pop, Cindy Lauper, The Ramones and Sex Pistols.
"My first experiences with a camera was at the legendary CBGB's, this bar in New York through which passed the pillars of punk, and that was very exciting. Was new, and I wanted to portray all that energy and visual appeal in front of him "recalled the artist during the talk, before the opening of his exhibition in the lobby of the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
The photographer, who has worked for publications such as Rolling Stone, Mojo, Spin, The New York Times and The Village Voice, said that in his experience, being a woman gave him an advantage over other music photographers of the time.
"She was new to that environment and many musicians wanted to hire me, especially being a woman, perhaps inspiring them more confidence. Always tried to maintain a very professional, very respectful to the musicians, and it allowed me to make good friends and members of The Cars, and Robert Smith, lead singer of The Cure, "said the artist.
Just as staff photographer for The Cure, Roberts first visited Mexico, when the British band gave a concert in the city of Monterrey in 1992.
"I remember that visit and how enthusiastic was the audience that night. In truth I have fond memories. I wish I could delve more into Mexican music, and generally in Latin music. The other day I heard Concha Buika and loved it, would learn more about Latin music, "he said about the singer's Afro.
Roberts lamented that the banda R.E.M. and Phil Collins, with whom he had opportunity to work in the 1980 and 1990, have taken the decision to withdraw from the stage.
"It saddens me that there is more REM and a figure than Phil Collins has retired for health reasons. It is unfortunate that today the industry is more interested in theater artists, who are more concerned about the issue in his music visual"said the American.
"Unfortunately the music industry is more focused on that, theatricality, money, people try to make money at any cost and the essence of music has been relegated," he added.Roberts believes that many people with interesting ideas but have no opportunity to be heard by a well-established industry, such as music.
"That's where Internet works and gives us the opportunity to hear what the radio stations or TV is not imposed on us," he said.
Although Roberts also believes that new technology leads to problems that were not thought of before, like the fact that anyone with a cell phone or digital camera is considered a photographer.
"It's great now that everyone has access to a camera, but the downside comes when those images do not have the proper quality. Now everything is easier, but I am against a product that does not have the right characteristics,"Roberts said.
"The flashes of sound. Ebet Roberts Photography" will be open in the lobby gallery of the National Auditorium to late April.
David Bowie, Bob Marley, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan, REM, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, James Brown, U2, Peter Gabriel and The Ramones are among the musical legends who has caught the lens of Roberts. On Friday, the photographer opened his exhibition "The flashes of sound. Ebet Roberts Photography", the first sample of his work in Mexico.
"I actually think that the picture he chose me. I left my native Memphis to study painting in New York in the 1970's, and my initial idea was to combine both disciplines so I bought a professional camera. One day, a musician friend I suggested taking pictures of his band, and not imagine it had come to the right place, "Roberts told The Associated Press.
Once inside the world of rock, Roberts was able to witness the boom that the punk movement was in the New York scene in the late 1970's, and achievement to establish a professional relationship with genre icons such as Iggy Pop, Cindy Lauper, The Ramones and Sex Pistols.
"My first experiences with a camera was at the legendary CBGB's, this bar in New York through which passed the pillars of punk, and that was very exciting. Was new, and I wanted to portray all that energy and visual appeal in front of him "recalled the artist during the talk, before the opening of his exhibition in the lobby of the National Auditorium in Mexico City.
The photographer, who has worked for publications such as Rolling Stone, Mojo, Spin, The New York Times and The Village Voice, said that in his experience, being a woman gave him an advantage over other music photographers of the time.
"She was new to that environment and many musicians wanted to hire me, especially being a woman, perhaps inspiring them more confidence. Always tried to maintain a very professional, very respectful to the musicians, and it allowed me to make good friends and members of The Cars, and Robert Smith, lead singer of The Cure, "said the artist.
Just as staff photographer for The Cure, Roberts first visited Mexico, when the British band gave a concert in the city of Monterrey in 1992.
"I remember that visit and how enthusiastic was the audience that night. In truth I have fond memories. I wish I could delve more into Mexican music, and generally in Latin music. The other day I heard Concha Buika and loved it, would learn more about Latin music, "he said about the singer's Afro.
Roberts lamented that the banda R.E.M. and Phil Collins, with whom he had opportunity to work in the 1980 and 1990, have taken the decision to withdraw from the stage.
"It saddens me that there is more REM and a figure than Phil Collins has retired for health reasons. It is unfortunate that today the industry is more interested in theater artists, who are more concerned about the issue in his music visual"said the American.
"Unfortunately the music industry is more focused on that, theatricality, money, people try to make money at any cost and the essence of music has been relegated," he added.Roberts believes that many people with interesting ideas but have no opportunity to be heard by a well-established industry, such as music.
"That's where Internet works and gives us the opportunity to hear what the radio stations or TV is not imposed on us," he said.
Although Roberts also believes that new technology leads to problems that were not thought of before, like the fact that anyone with a cell phone or digital camera is considered a photographer.
"It's great now that everyone has access to a camera, but the downside comes when those images do not have the proper quality. Now everything is easier, but I am against a product that does not have the right characteristics,"Roberts said.
"The flashes of sound. Ebet Roberts Photography" will be open in the lobby gallery of the National Auditorium to late April.
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