Rene' Burri
dal 15/1/2014 al 14/3/2014
Segnalato da
15/1/2014
Rene' Burri
OstLicht Galerie fur Fotografie, Wien
Doppelleben. After working as a photographer for five decades Burri can look back on a rich body of work in color which this exhibition now examines and acclaims as an independent contribution to "New Color Photography".
Che Guevara smoking a cigar, Pablo Picasso in the bullring, Alberto Giacometti in his studio or
Le Corbusier while designing - Réne Burri helped shape the history of photography in the 20th
century with his photographs and reportages. In addition, Burri belongs to the protagonists of a
color photography with artistic aspirations, which until recently has often been overlooked.
After working as a photographer for five decades René Burri can look back on a rich body of work
in color which this exhibition now examines and acclaims as an independent contribution to “New
Color Photography”.
With the exhibition RENÉ BURRI. DOPPELLEBEN, OstLicht presents a largely unknown area of
this great Swiss photographer's creative ouevre. In contrast to his black and white photographs,
Burri does not attempt to make pointed statements with his color photography. Instead they
reflect an interplay of shapes and colors, often opening up confusing, enigmatic views and vistas.
He dares to create bold details and perspectives, playing with reflections, sharpness and blur.
Nevertheless, he sets color in these works, which have developed over the last decades through
his travels around the world, not only from a purely formal interest. Always, though usually very
subtle, a social, political, historical message resonates, which often only becomes apparent at a
second glance.
Alongside these color photographs, which are being shown for the first time in Austria, famous
black and white icons can be found in the exhibition. Supplemented with additional photographs
and photo essays, it is impressive to see how he approached themes, subjects and the people he
portrayed. As a tribute to his 80th birthday, the exhibition retraces two main lines of a remarkable
photographer life – or as René Burri puts it himself:
“As a photographer I have led a double life – one in black and white and one in color.”
An exhibition of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.
All exhibited photographs by René Burri are for sale on demand in the gallery.
Publication
René Burri. Impossible Reminiscences
Phaidon Verlag, 240 pages with 172 illustrations and an essay by Hans-Michael Koetzle. Price: € 92,60. The catalogue and more books by René Burri are available for sale in the gallery OstLicht or in our online bookshop.
Image: Beirut, Lebanon, 1991, © René Burri / Magnum Photos
Press Contact:
Stefan Musil T +43 (0)676 9316665 musil@ostlicht.at
Press conference on Thursday, January 16, 2014, 5 pm
Opening on Thursday, 16 January 2014, 7 pm
In presence of René Burri.
Laudatio: Hans-Michael Koetzle, curator and publicist, Munich
OstLicht Galerie für Fotografie
Absberggasse 27, A-1100 Wien
Opening hours:
Gallery: Wed–Sat 12–6 pm
Library: Wed–Fr 12–6 pm
Closed on public holidays