Bernhard Wicki
dal 21/6/2005 al 2/10/2005
Segnalato da
Architekturmuseum der Technischen Universitat
21/6/2005
Bernhard Wicki
Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich
80 photos. The artist gained world-wide fame in 1959 with his film 'The Bridge'. Prior to this, he became known as a movie and stage actor. Even today Wicki was active as a photographer during the 1950s, creating a body of work that not only helped with his directorial work, but that also carried his own creative trademark.
Photographs
Curated by Inka Graeve Ingelmann
The Pinakothek der Moderne will present the first museum exhibition
devoted to the photographic works of Bernhard Wicki (1919-2000). 80
original photos (vintage prints) from the artist's estate will be put on
show. Bernhard Wicki gained world-wide fame in 1959 with his film »The
Bridge«. Prior to this, he became internationally known as a movie and
stage actor. Even today it is a little known fact that Wicki was active
as a photographer during the 1950s, creating a body of work that not
only helped with his directorial work, but that also carried his own
creative trademark. For Wicki, photography was a key tool for visual
expression.
Wicki first encounters photography at the »World Exhibition of
Photography « in Lucerne in 1952. Fascinated by its many means of
expression, he gives up his engagement at Munich’s State Theater and
relocates to Paris, in order to »obsessively« devote himself to
photography. During the following 10 years, a body of photographic works
accrues primarily during trips through Europe and North Africa as well
as in Munich, his place of residence. At the heart of his interests are
people in their daily tasks, observed by Wicki during his various
excursions. He impressively portrays the disastrous effects of World War
II, which are marked by isolation, devoid of dreams and yet not without
a certain humanity and hope. Furthermore, during the shooting of various
films, he photographs his colleagues with a rare intimacy. His subjects
include Romy Schneider, Horst Buchholz, Maria Schell and the authors
Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Max Frisch. His photographic style reveals the
influence of LIFE photography as well as the international movement
»subjective photography«. Neorealist films however have the strongest
impact on his work.
Wicki’s photos cause a stir as early as the 1950s. His work is published
in magazines (Magnum, Frau and Film) and is included in various
exhibitions (World Exhibition of Photography 1964). He rejects an offer
to work for LIFE Magazine on a regular basis. In 1960, Wicki’s
photographic work is published in a fine edition by Interbooks Verlag,
Zurich, under the title »Zwei Gramm Licht« with an introduction by
Friedrich Dürrenmatt. He is the subject of a solo exhibition in the
Galerie Diogenes, Berlin, in 1961. However, by this time Wicki has
already given up photography to devote himself completely to directing
after his international success of »The Bridge«. His photographic works
then sinks into oblivion.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a program of films and talks. An
exclusive illustrated book will also be published by DuMont-Verlag
(24,90 Euro). The exhibition will be shown next in the Landesmuseum St.
Pölten in Austria and the Filmmuseum in Frankfurt am Main. Further
locations in Germany and Switzerland are planned. Following the
exhibition, the Goethe Institute will show a selection of new prints by
the artist in a worldwide tour.
Opening: June 22 at 19:00
Pinakothek der Moderne
Barer Strasse 40 - Munchen