José Alfedo Jiménez (1926-1973) was a significant proponent of ranchero music, writing songs that exalt the archetype of the heartthrob, womanizer and drunkard, always in love and always scorned. His music achieved great popularity due to the beauty of the melodies and the sincere and direct sentiment expressed in the lyrics. They are songs that do not age or fall out of fashion and that, to the contrary, transcend their time by acquiring new meanings; works of great artistic value that are capable of inspiring the admiration of anyone, no matter their social standing. José Alfredo died when he was only 47 years old, leaving an extensive number of songs representing an inalienable patrimony belonging to a community without borders.
The museum is installed in what was the birthplace of José Alfredo, a beautiful and typical provincial house of the late nineteenth century, which his family re-acquired to convert into a museum dedicated to his memory. Its adaptation as a museum creates spaces in which tradition and modernity converge, with a contemporary exhibition aesthetic in steel and glass contrasting with the craft character of the architecture.
The exhibition presents a narrative of the life and works of José Alfredo through a rich mix of information including graphic compositions, photographs, sound installations, videos and interactive song booths. These are combined with the display of personal objects, records, trophies, diplomas and other testimonials from the many homages he received and still receives.
Location: Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato State, Mexico
Client: Jiménez Gálvez family
Project Scope: Architectural adaptation project for the building, exhibition design project and realization.
Exhibition area: 500 m2
Project director: Jorge Agostoni
Collaborators: Vicente Romero Rubí, Margarita Zavala Yáñez, Roma Loera Villalobos, Silvana Agostoni.