Enrica Viganò has convincingly put together an exhibition of Italian photography from the thirties, forties and fifties that establishes a clear link between post war cinema – the famous Neo Realismo school - and the work of many talented photo reporters on the streets who successfully attempted to capture the essence of their troubled times and of a poor country at war and trying to rebuild and reinvent itself after the mayhem had passed. They are deeply moving documents, an impressive collection of images. As no single author is contributing more than a few pieces to the whole, the result is collective and choral, thus a more eloquent expression of a time and place than any individual oeuvre could ever hope to be. Each had his own style, all were quite good, much was shared in their vision.
Film posters and fragments add to the atmosphere, bringing us back in time, as well as showing how the dramatization of film sets stands in relation to the authentic photographs taken in the real world. Arguably movie makers used these photographs as a source of inspiration, the closer they could keep to them the better. To me photographs are best, and it all acts as a powerful reminder of the strength of the medium in its purest form. This is why I found the exhibition to be a call to arms for present work and not just a historical revue. Get out there and shoot the real. Time for a New Neorealismo.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Handy Stedelijk
The slightly unpronounceable Stedelijk Museum is to Amsterdam what the MOMA is to NYC or the Tate to London: our local modern art place. Due to a long renovation project of its building on the monumental Museumplein, it is temporarily hosted in a former Post office, an international style kind of block on a strip of land next to Central Station, that is in the process of being developed into a striking and quite dramatic Miami look a like, with a Northern twist. Also in its choice of Art it is more than anything American influenced, having historically hosted a wide array of transatlantic artists including some controversial names like Dennis Hopper. Andy Warhol is on the agenda now.
Before entering the actual exhibition, one crosses the museum shop area, that has been renamed – presumably only for the duration – Warhol’s shop. A number of white panels hang from the ceiling, with quotations from the master himself. This I found quite handy because, having read them, I felt enough was said and nothing was left to do other than literally quote them on my blog and let the reader connect the dots and draw his or her own conclusions.
In casual order:
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DEPARTMENT STORES ARE KIND OF LIKE MUSEUMS.
I NEVER READ I JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES.
AN ARTIST IS SOMEBODY WHO PRODUCES THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON’T NEED TO HAVE.
COMMERCIAL THINGS REALLY DO STINK.
ART IS WHAT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH.
I AM AFRAID THAT IF YOU LOOK AT ANYTHING LONG ENOUGH, IT LOSES ALL OF ITS MEANING.
GOOD BUSINESS IS THE BEST ART.
Handy and all, but who needs Andy?
Before entering the actual exhibition, one crosses the museum shop area, that has been renamed – presumably only for the duration – Warhol’s shop. A number of white panels hang from the ceiling, with quotations from the master himself. This I found quite handy because, having read them, I felt enough was said and nothing was left to do other than literally quote them on my blog and let the reader connect the dots and draw his or her own conclusions.
In casual order:
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, DEPARTMENT STORES ARE KIND OF LIKE MUSEUMS.
I NEVER READ I JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURES.
AN ARTIST IS SOMEBODY WHO PRODUCES THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON’T NEED TO HAVE.
COMMERCIAL THINGS REALLY DO STINK.
ART IS WHAT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH.
I AM AFRAID THAT IF YOU LOOK AT ANYTHING LONG ENOUGH, IT LOSES ALL OF ITS MEANING.
GOOD BUSINESS IS THE BEST ART.
Handy and all, but who needs Andy?
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