shows archive

Contemporary American Photography

Part I - American Portraits - Keliy Anderson-Staley, Wendy Paton, Abe Frajndlich, Mary Ellen Mark

„American Portraits", Part I
Keliy Anderson-Staley, Wendy Paton, Abe Frajndlich, Mary Ellen Mark


opening reception: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7 - 9.30 pm
opening hours: until February 19, Tuesday to Saturday 4 - 8 pm, 
February 20 to March 5, 2011, by appointment only.

In these two exhibitions, in focus gallery shows works by American artists that are already known in Europe - like Mary Ellen Mark and Abe Frajndlich - as well as newcomers, like Keliy Anderson-Staley, Wendy Paton, Chang Kim, Susan Dobson and Lothar Troeller.

In America, where photography has been a popular medium since it's introduction in 1839, and has been used for private purposes, as well as in the arts. The technical and cultural possibilities that have accompanied the development of photography, evolved along with the changing marketing on the one hand and to the desires and feelings of the Americans on the other.

With both exhibitions, in focus gallery is pleased to present varied insights into contemporary American photography.These artists' works range from documentary to staged or conceptual photography. In their pictures the contrast between the American dream and the American reality becomes visible.

In Part I, American Portraits with photographs by Keliy Anderson-Staley, Wendy Paton (both discoveries of the foto festival Houston 2010) as well as Abe Frajndlich and Mary Ellen Mark, we get the chance to search for the American personality in the tension between truthfulness and stylization that is naturally part of portraits themselves. What becomes visible are not stereotypes, but multiform, funny and melancholy views. The search for the essence in portraits offers very personal insights into the minds of those portrayed as well as of the artist.

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