Transition of Spanish generations on exhibition
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Aslı Sağlam
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 19, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - An exhibition at Milli Reasürans Art Gallery brings together 1950s-era art and modern art. Christina Garcia Rodero, one of the few female Magnum photographers, has six photographs of Cuba on display for the exhibit
Istanbul’s Milli Reausürans Art Gallery is hosting work by a famous Spanish photographer in a new exhibit called, "Itinerarios Afines" (Affinity Paths). The exhibition brings together 1950s-generation Spanish artists and modern Spanish artists who were born in the 1960s.
Significant changes took place from 1950 to 1960 after the Spanish civil war. Artists such as Joan Colom, Frabcesc Catala-Roca, Xavier Miserachs, Oriol Maspons and Ramon Masats were known as documentary photographers. Publishing journalistic photographs in popular magazines and forming their own brand of art was something to envy. After the 1950s, new-age photographers blew past the boundaries restricting photography and created places for themselves in the international arena.
1950s-era art and modern art
The new exhibition brings together 1950s-era art and modern art. The art of Christina Garcia Rodero, Chema Madoz, Alberto Garcia-Alix, Ferran Freixa, Christobal Hara, Angel Marcos, Ouka Leele, Javier Vallhonrat, Bleda y Rosa and Xavier Ribas is featured in the exhibition.
The photographers mostly work in the field of documentary and traditional photography by telling their stories in a poetic and artistic way.
Although the photographers share a common culture, the photos in the exhibition reflect many different feelings. Some don’t have a human presence, some bring traditional festivities of Spain to your door, some of them are black and white, and some of them are painted with watercolors.
Christina Garcia Rodero, one of the few women Magnum photographers, provided information about the exhibition to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The tiny-looking energetic photographer wanted to walk through the exhibit, which hosted her black and white photos with Angel Marcos’s works. "Marcos is a photographer who draws attention to urbanization," Rodero said.
Marcos, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has six photographs displaying Cuba and its streets, construction and icons decorating the walls of wrecked buildings. In this case it’s mostly Che Guevara’s illustrations. "He photographed Cuban streets that reflect the economic situation," Rodero said.
The art is mostly more than 50 years old, Rodero said. "There are different styles of photography."
Ouka Leele, whose real name is Barbara Allende Gil de Biedma, started taking photographs at 18. Among the many awards she has received, the latest one is the National Awards for Photography in 2005. Rodero visited Leele’s first exhibition, which Rodero called "delicious." According to Rodero, Leele has poetic art. Leele’s art in the "Itinerarios Afines" exhibition are mostly surrealist paintings. "She paints her pictures with mostly watercolors," Rodero said.
Another artist, Christobal Hara, has primarily taken black and white photos throughout his career. He is presenting live photos that reflect feelings.
’Real Spain’
Rodero is showcasing black and white photographs. She embarked upon an investigation into Spanish festivities, traditions and rituals in 1973. Her studies lasted 15 years. She published a book for her work, which brought her the Award for the Best Book of Photography in 1989. The award was followed by many others. She said her photography introduced the real Spain to her.
"Most of Spain’s centuries-old traditions are on the edge of vanishing," she said. Her black and white photographs, strong enough to make the viewer feel a part of the festivity, clearly display symbols, history, culture and the economic situation of the country. The oldest photo she is exhibiting is from 1976. Rodero was so happy to be in Istanbul. "The city that does not sleep," she said.
The exhibition was opened by the Cervantes Institute and the State Corporation for Spanish Cultural Action Abroad, or SEACEX, with the cooperation of the Foreign and Culture Ministry of Spain and Spain’s Ankara Embassy.
The exhibition is open through Feb. 27.
Significant changes took place from 1950 to 1960 after the Spanish civil war. Artists such as Joan Colom, Frabcesc Catala-Roca, Xavier Miserachs, Oriol Maspons and Ramon Masats were known as documentary photographers. Publishing journalistic photographs in popular magazines and forming their own brand of art was something to envy. After the 1950s, new-age photographers blew past the boundaries restricting photography and created places for themselves in the international arena.
1950s-era art and modern art
The new exhibition brings together 1950s-era art and modern art. The art of Christina Garcia Rodero, Chema Madoz, Alberto Garcia-Alix, Ferran Freixa, Christobal Hara, Angel Marcos, Ouka Leele, Javier Vallhonrat, Bleda y Rosa and Xavier Ribas is featured in the exhibition.
The photographers mostly work in the field of documentary and traditional photography by telling their stories in a poetic and artistic way.
Although the photographers share a common culture, the photos in the exhibition reflect many different feelings. Some don’t have a human presence, some bring traditional festivities of Spain to your door, some of them are black and white, and some of them are painted with watercolors.
Christina Garcia Rodero, one of the few women Magnum photographers, provided information about the exhibition to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The tiny-looking energetic photographer wanted to walk through the exhibit, which hosted her black and white photos with Angel Marcos’s works. "Marcos is a photographer who draws attention to urbanization," Rodero said.
Marcos, an internationally acclaimed photographer, has six photographs displaying Cuba and its streets, construction and icons decorating the walls of wrecked buildings. In this case it’s mostly Che Guevara’s illustrations. "He photographed Cuban streets that reflect the economic situation," Rodero said.
The art is mostly more than 50 years old, Rodero said. "There are different styles of photography."
Ouka Leele, whose real name is Barbara Allende Gil de Biedma, started taking photographs at 18. Among the many awards she has received, the latest one is the National Awards for Photography in 2005. Rodero visited Leele’s first exhibition, which Rodero called "delicious." According to Rodero, Leele has poetic art. Leele’s art in the "Itinerarios Afines" exhibition are mostly surrealist paintings. "She paints her pictures with mostly watercolors," Rodero said.
Another artist, Christobal Hara, has primarily taken black and white photos throughout his career. He is presenting live photos that reflect feelings.
’Real Spain’
Rodero is showcasing black and white photographs. She embarked upon an investigation into Spanish festivities, traditions and rituals in 1973. Her studies lasted 15 years. She published a book for her work, which brought her the Award for the Best Book of Photography in 1989. The award was followed by many others. She said her photography introduced the real Spain to her.
"Most of Spain’s centuries-old traditions are on the edge of vanishing," she said. Her black and white photographs, strong enough to make the viewer feel a part of the festivity, clearly display symbols, history, culture and the economic situation of the country. The oldest photo she is exhibiting is from 1976. Rodero was so happy to be in Istanbul. "The city that does not sleep," she said.
The exhibition was opened by the Cervantes Institute and the State Corporation for Spanish Cultural Action Abroad, or SEACEX, with the cooperation of the Foreign and Culture Ministry of Spain and Spain’s Ankara Embassy.
The exhibition is open through Feb. 27.