Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas
The Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas (IIE) is an institute for aesthetic research of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in the Coyoacán district of Mexico City . It was originally in 1934 among others by the Mexican art historian Manuel Toussaint y knight under the name Laboratorio de Arte ( dt. : Art Laboratory ) was established, until his death as a director acted. The institution has been called the Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas since 1936.
In addition to dealing with art history , theory and criticism , the preservation and storage of the national art heritage is one of the institution's basic goals. The institute comprises the specialist and research areas of architecture , plastic arts, cinematics , photography , music , dance , literature and theater .
Since 1975 the institute has been holding an annual Coloquio Internacional de Historia del Arte, which offers academic freedom for debates in our discipline in an international context.
The research and publication services of the institute are supported by the following departments:
The Manuel Toussaint Photographic Archive houses over 750,000 images, which constitute the largest visual archive of Mexican art. In addition, damaged photographs and slides are restored in an attached laboratory. The archive's fund is not only used for research and teaching, but is also used in numerous photo exhibitions. The Justino Fernández Library is the largest and most important art history library in Latin America. Their holdings are used for research and the scientific basis of exhibitions and didactic art programs on television. The library is internationally networked through the exchange and loan of publications. The documentation department carries out archival research in various archives in Mexico. These are made accessible in the Catálogos de Documentos de Arte. As a basis for research, these processed archive materials are of inestimable value. The laboratory for the examination of works of art has extensive technical equipment for painting and material research and restoration of works of art; numerous Mexican cultural assets are examined in it. In May 2008 the laboratory for hypermedia was set up, in which the institute's employees have access to the latest digital techniques and aids for art historical research and their publications. The publications department is fundamental for the publication and dissemination of the institute's research results. Each of the titles published by the institute is subjected to the strictest quality standards. This department also produces the Anales del Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, an international art historical journal that appears twice a year (www.analesiie.unam.mx). The Institute's publications are not only sold in the university's own bookstores, but also in major commercial bookstores. In addition, the institute will soon offer electronic book purchase. The electronic magazine Imágenes is a platform for the dissemination of internal news and short articles on art history. Its easily comprehensible content has made it one of the institute's most popular electronic portals.