Discovering Varda, The Icon We Didn’t Know We Needed

The exhibition on Agnès Varda at Barcelona’s CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona) is a vibrant, textured tribute to a filmmaker who remains strangely underappreciated, despite her monumental influence on cinema, feminism, and art. Visiting this exhibition with friends from various backgrounds, it was surprising—and a bit unsettling—that none of us had known much about Varda. Here was a pioneering female director who forged a unique path in the male-dominated French New Wave, yet her name had somehow escaped us. This omission speaks to the larger pattern of erasing women’s contributions to the arts, a theme that seemed all the more relevant as we wandered through the thoughtfully curated rooms of the CCCB.

The exhibition, Agnès Varda: Photography, Film, Recycle, is as eclectic as Varda herself, guiding us through her life with installations, films, and photographs that capture her curiosity and commitment to social change. Varda’s work was always infused with a sense of playfulness and a deep empathy for her subjects, whether they were well-known figures or anonymous individuals on society’s fringes. One installation that stood out was ‘Les Glaneurs et la Glaneuse’ (The Gleaners and I), a documentary that follows people living off discarded food and materials. Varda herself appears in the film, “gleaning” with her subjects, blurring the line between filmmaker and participant—a perfect example of her boundary-defying approach to art.

Another highlight was her photographic series from her early career, which captures the rawness of post-war Europe. These black-and-white portraits reveal her eye for detail and sensitivity to human expression, skills that translated powerfully into her later films. The exhibition also presents some of her lesser-known art installations, created during her later years, which show her experimenting with mixed media and playing with themes of memory and aging. These pieces embody her philosophy of “recycling” both materials and ideas, reminding us that life is a continuous process of renewal.

A stop at the Varda Laboratory within the exhibit felt like a window into her whimsical mind, filled with props and references to her beloved cats, mirrors, and beaches. This section invites viewers to engage directly with her inspirations, creating a playful yet intimate connection to her artistic world. The exhibition doesn’t shy away from showing her deep involvement in social issues, from her friendship with the Black Panthers in California to her early advocacy for women’s rights, as seen in films like ‘One Sings, the Other Doesn’t’.

The visit was courtesy of Dart Festival, who graciously gifted us tickets through their Instagram giveaway—a detail that added a layer of serendipity to the experience. It’s almost as if Varda’s spirit, with her love for the unexpected and the uncelebrated, had orchestrated this small encounter, bringing her work into our lives through a random act of generosity.

Ultimately, this exhibit is a heartfelt celebration of Agnès Varda’s artistry and impact. It’s a reminder that her work is as relevant today as ever, capturing life’s overlooked moments with wit, warmth, and a uniquely feminist lens. As we left the CCCB, the conversations were filled with reflections on how artists like Varda push us to see the world differently, and with a collective vow to dive deeper into her filmography, knowing that her work deserves far more recognition than it has received.

Agnès Varda. Photographing, Filming, Recycling

This exhibition is on view at the CCCB until December 2024. Entry is 6 Euros. You can buy tickets online or at CCCB.