In "Less Than One" series, Gronsky explores the areas in Russia where the average population is less than one per square kilometer. "The Edge" series focuses on the outskirts of Moscow.
Kahmann Gallery is proud to present, as part of the bilateral Netherlands-
Russia year 2013, an exhibition of the Russian Photographer Alexander
Gronsky.
Since 2011 director Yvonne Feil has worked tirelessly to form an exchange between
Kahmann Gallery and a Russian gallery. Together with Perspectiva Art, an organisation
which promotes Russian photography in Europe, she has made a collaboration between
Kahmann Gallery and Grinbery Gallery Moscow happen. The exchange between Kahmann
Gallery and Grinberg Gallery is part of the Project ARTbeat, where contemporary multimedia
art is used to show – and strengthen - the cultural relationship between Russia and the
Netherlands. Grinberg Gallery will show a selection of photographers from Kahmann Gallery
this summer.
Kahmann Gallery will show Alexander Gronsky’s (Talinn, 1980) work from the series Less
Than One and The Edge. In Less Than One, Gronsky explores the areas in Russia where
the average population is less than one per square kilometer. In the vastness of Russia,
these regions are more common than one might expect. In the series, Gronsky is looking
for evidence of human life in the monotonous and derelict Russian landscape. The Edge
focuses on the outskirts of Moscow; Gronsky captured the area during the harsh winter
months, when a permanent blanket of snow covers the landscape. Despite the monotony
of the region and the sorrowful Soviet architecture in the background, his photographs
never seem sombre. He has managed to capture man in his desolate surroundings in a
warmhearted and loving way.
Gronsky started his career at 18 years old as a press photographer. He slowly detached
himself from commercial photography to concentrate on his personal documentary
projects, focusing on the contemporary Russian landscape. Gronsky has won numerous
international prizes, including the third prize in the category Daily Life Stories of the World
Press Photo 2012, the Foam Paul Huf Award in 2010 and the Aperture Portfolio Prize in
2009. His work has been shown in many galleries and museums worldwide and has been
published in multiple international magazines and newspapers. His work has also been
included in several museum collection, like The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and in many
private collections all over the world.
We would like to thank Anna Savitskaya from Perspectiva Art, Grinberg Gallery and Foam
Amsterdam for their cooperation.
Image: Untitled, from the series The Edge, 2009. courtesy Kahmann Gallery/Grinberg Gallery
Opening on Thursday the 14th of March, 17:30-19:30
Kahmann Gallery
Lindengracht 35 1015 KB Amsterdam
Hours: Tue-Sat 13-17 h