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| Sally Mann, Candy Cigarette, 1989 est. $12,000 to $18,000 |
Fine Photographs
at Auction
Swann Auction Galleries
New York, NY
Russian Photography Today
A link to the ongoing call for work "My Own Wilderness" made it's way onto the Russian art website Art Nagrada, and as a result over 35 submissions have been received from that country. The submitted work has almost entirely come from young photographers living in Moscow and St Petersburg. I started to wonder about the current state of photography in Russia, so I asked a few of the contributors to send me their thoughts on the subject. I have corrected a bit of the English translation here only when necessary, leaving as much of the direct information from the photographer intact. I think these are marvelous windows into the world of Russian photography. Many thanks to Katya and Alena for sharing these well considered essays, and to all of the amazing young Russian photographers who have contributed to this call for work.
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| Commonness, Russia, Kostrova by Alena Agadzikova, Moscow |
Alena Agadzikova, 18 years old, Moscow
I can not say what the situation of photography is in all RUSSIA , because I live in the capital, Moscow. You know, in Russia there is a joke - "Moscow - Russia is not," And indeed it is. Moscow - a lively city where people live in the information. Province of Russia live quite differently. In some cities, living as if still the Soviet Union. However, a mistake to think that the Russians go with the bears and vodka. Of course, we love vodka! But even in the remote province of many appropriate people. It was not long since, as Russia has to keep pace with progress. At the far ends of the country's Internet appeared only a year ago. And mass-regarded photography, art, people have started too recently.
Because of the Internet, to be a photographer in Russia has become fashionable. Buy cameras, even those who do not know how to use them. In small towns, "photographers" are beginning to respect and be invited to various events. Although images poorly photographed. They become local celebrities. But the same province and the people have no taste. Someone has taste, but there is not enough. In Moscow, everything is different. 100% of photographers shoot only 8-10% because it is their vocation, and passion. These people take pictures good. all the other 90% do so for the sake of fashion.
Recently, a good many photographers are returning back to film photography. It takes a lot of money, but it paid off. Photographers are increasingly taking pictures with old Russian cameras, "Zenith", "FED", "Lyubitel'"
Moscow is now actively promoting the art of photography. In the center there are two places where young writers can exhibit their work (if they approve, if they are talented). There are hundreds of small galleries, but they are not the same.
1. "Contemporary Art Center Wine Factory" - "winery," because the center is built right into the former factory where they made wine. In Moscow there is an entire government program from the Department of Culture, according to which all former factories in places rebuilt Culture.
2. "Moscow House of Photography" - State Exhibition Hall, the largest in Moscow.Brought there by Fellini, "More than fashion," Jurgen Taylor and many other photographers. The permanent exhibition there are always works of the famous Russian photographer, in whose honor and created the "Moscow House of Photography." This photographer named Alexander Rodchenko. He photographed in 1920-1940 years. His most famous portraits - a portrait of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and Lili Brik women. Portrait of Mayakovsky, Brik and a portrait of Lily, where she puts a hand to his lips -
But in "Moscow House of Photography" is difficult to exhibit their work. There may exhibit only the students' school photos. "School of Photography Rodchenko " - the only serious Academy pictures in Russia. They are taught the most powerful Russian photographers. The Academy is notable that students learn (they are trained for two and a half years) there for free. .In September, ends in a set of portfolios. Each year the academy are trying to do about 700-800 people. Of these, 30 people are choosing to do.
I came to the academy for two years. Unfortunately, unsuccessfully. But the teachers explained the reason: they choose the students who graduated from university and engaged in photography professionally. I do not really understand this principle, I think it's wrong, because you have to enable even the youngest photographers. For example, I'm 18 years old. I came to the Academy at seventeen and eighteen years.Incidentally, in this academy despise fashion photography. They consider it a bad grade. With this, too, is debatable. Teachers Academy is very outdated attitudes, they are professionals, but do not look at the present.
Katya Deriglazova, 30 yrs old, Moscow
I can not say what the situation of photography is in all RUSSIA , because I live in the capital, Moscow. You know, in Russia there is a joke - "Moscow - Russia is not," And indeed it is. Moscow - a lively city where people live in the information. Province of Russia live quite differently. In some cities, living as if still the Soviet Union. However, a mistake to think that the Russians go with the bears and vodka. Of course, we love vodka! But even in the remote province of many appropriate people. It was not long since, as Russia has to keep pace with progress. At the far ends of the country's Internet appeared only a year ago. And mass-regarded photography, art, people have started too recently.
Because of the Internet, to be a photographer in Russia has become fashionable. Buy cameras, even those who do not know how to use them. In small towns, "photographers" are beginning to respect and be invited to various events. Although images poorly photographed. They become local celebrities. But the same province and the people have no taste. Someone has taste, but there is not enough. In Moscow, everything is different. 100% of photographers shoot only 8-10% because it is their vocation, and passion. These people take pictures good. all the other 90% do so for the sake of fashion.
Recently, a good many photographers are returning back to film photography. It takes a lot of money, but it paid off. Photographers are increasingly taking pictures with old Russian cameras, "Zenith", "FED", "Lyubitel'"
Moscow is now actively promoting the art of photography. In the center there are two places where young writers can exhibit their work (if they approve, if they are talented). There are hundreds of small galleries, but they are not the same.
1. "Contemporary Art Center Wine Factory" - "winery," because the center is built right into the former factory where they made wine. In Moscow there is an entire government program from the Department of Culture, according to which all former factories in places rebuilt Culture.
2. "Moscow House of Photography" - State Exhibition Hall, the largest in Moscow.Brought there by Fellini, "More than fashion," Jurgen Taylor and many other photographers. The permanent exhibition there are always works of the famous Russian photographer, in whose honor and created the "Moscow House of Photography." This photographer named Alexander Rodchenko. He photographed in 1920-1940 years. His most famous portraits - a portrait of the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and Lili Brik women. Portrait of Mayakovsky, Brik and a portrait of Lily, where she puts a hand to his lips -
But in "Moscow House of Photography" is difficult to exhibit their work. There may exhibit only the students' school photos. "School of Photography Rodchenko " - the only serious Academy pictures in Russia. They are taught the most powerful Russian photographers. The Academy is notable that students learn (they are trained for two and a half years) there for free. .In September, ends in a set of portfolios. Each year the academy are trying to do about 700-800 people. Of these, 30 people are choosing to do.
I came to the academy for two years. Unfortunately, unsuccessfully. But the teachers explained the reason: they choose the students who graduated from university and engaged in photography professionally. I do not really understand this principle, I think it's wrong, because you have to enable even the youngest photographers. For example, I'm 18 years old. I came to the Academy at seventeen and eighteen years.Incidentally, in this academy despise fashion photography. They consider it a bad grade. With this, too, is debatable. Teachers Academy is very outdated attitudes, they are professionals, but do not look at the present.
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| Katya Deriglazova |
Katya Deriglazova, 30 yrs old, Moscow
Russian Photography Today
From the Point of View of a Spherical Cow
Who is a Spherical Cow, you ask? That’s me. Not an art expert, neither a student nor a bachelor of art, I have never had a personal exhibition or a display of my photographs and I earn money from a partly art-related job, rather than art itself. I don’t consider myself a follower of any artistic schools and I seldom, if ever, appear at the photographers’ hangouts. I mostly sit on the sidelines and watch what is going on with Photography in Russia these days.
It will be only logical to ask why I, being interested in photography as an art, haven’t got a solid opinion on many of its aspects. I guess the answer lies in my living right on the borderline of two different generations. While born and raised in the Soviet state, I’ve spent my mature years in the current Russia, and these are two completely different cultures.
Photography has never been considered an art among the Russians. A hobby or a part of journalist’s work: that’s what a photographer’s options were in the Soviet times. But even now there are no schools or colleges suitable for a person willing to become a photo artist. It seems all they teach these days is either how to become a photo journalist or how to win a grant for studying or working abroad.
I guess it was only after the Perestroika that photography was allowed to “become” an art. Then post-modern artists appeared, seeking not only “pure art”, but commercial success as well. And then it turned out that the only way to reach the latter was to go west and try selling your art there. But what does the Western world buy from a post-Soviet photographer most willingly? That’s right, the “social exotics”: abandoned villages, communal apartments, beggars and prostitutes, bums and lunatics. Everything that shows that life in Russia is not as good as the Soviet propaganda used to say. Sadly, this demand is still up even twenty years after.
As an ex-journalist and as a person I can’t but respect social art; I truly believe that the world can be changed for the better if we don’t turn a blind eye to what is not right. But I cannot approve of the fact that “social art” and “seamy side” are becoming more and more synonymous.
Sometimes I wish there were at least a few people among the modern photographers who would show us the bright side instead… but no glamour and Gucci suits please.
Besides social and documentary art there’s another group of photographers well-known both in Russia and abroad: the so-called “actual art”, e.g. AES+F group. They are indeed actual, with a little bit of politics, a tiny bite of scandalousness, a great deal of multi-media and a truly remarkable zoom. These artists are supported by both the Government and Moscow House of Photography, but unless anybody powerful approves of you, there is no way you will be considered “contemporary”. The line between art and advertising looks really vague in this case.
Of course, there are the “Pure Art” oriented photographers in Russia. But I am unsure whether they can even be called photographers. They are just artists, with a camera as their tool. Many of them print their photos the old-fashioned way. By the way, in Russia it’s cheaper to cyanotype or oil-print your pictures at home than to order high-quality pics from a public photo lab.
There are also avant-garde photographers, able to manipulate reality on a photo image without using computers or any other tech means.
“Female photography” needs to be mentioned as well, although it is often taken lightly by many fellow photo artists. These works are usually simplistic, with the photographers themselves and their friends as models, streets, parks and old apartments as backgrounds, focusing on self-reflection and on finding beauty in mundanity and everyday life.
Lately, analog technology in photography has become popular again both among amateurs and professionals. As today’s digital cameras allow anyone to make high-quality photos, people tend to look for some craftwork, for unique and hand-made photographs.
One of the most acute questions is whether Russian national photography exists at all. I can see why the question appeared in the first place. Seems like these days everybody’s talking about studying abroad, working abroad, leaving Russia for a place where one’s talent would be valued… This is a defeatist’s tactics, but unfortunately that is what on many of the younger photographers’ minds now. It pains me to see that most of them don’t see any prospects or possibilities in Russia. That’s why we are importing cultural trends rather than exporting them.
Тhat's why the Russian photo considered unfashionable. Many young artists are trying to work on those trends that have been marked abroad.
Sarah Bloom: Totally Exposed
Totally Exposed: A Solo Exhibit by Sarah Bloom
Sept 3- 30, 2011
Da Vinci Art Alliance
704 Catherine Street
Philadelphia, Pa
I was really impressed by this solo show after the pleasure of walking through it with the photographer as personal tour guide.The intimate space at Da Vinci Art Alliance is just right for an exhibit of this size. It's a clean, well lit space that enhances the experience of viewing the work on the walls. I had seen Sarah Bloom's work many times previously; first discovering her on Flickr about five years ago, and now keeping up with her almost daily updates on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, etc etc. In fact, it was by way of her increasingly popular web presence that Sarah was able to fund this show in the first place. A well run Kickstarter campaign raised all of the funding required to rent gallery space for a month and obtain some impressively large prints to put together the current show.
Wasted Knowledge is the largest image in the show at about 30 inches high by 90 inches long, it is printed on silk, giving it a look closer to tapestry than photography, and reminded me of the work Chuck Close has done with woven fabric.It's a perfect image for this type of experimental printing. Every slight breeze in the gallery causes the image to slowly undulate against the wall for an interesting optical effect.
The Earth is My Body is one of several very large square format prints that looked stunning and really anchor the remaining images in the gallery.Other favorites of mine were prints on translucent paper hanging in the two front windows of the gallery.All of these images are from Sarah's ongoing series of nude self portraits, mostly taken in abandoned and decaying buildings in various cities such as Philadelphia and Detroit. Lot's of people take photographs of abandoned buildings, especially in Detroit, but few people get naked and crawl around among the rubble and grime of these buildings in order to pursue an intensive photographic project.
The project explores concepts of age and body image, the confrontation of mortality, and a search for beauty among decay. Sarah Bloom's artist statement includes the following summary.. "I began shooting self-portraits in abandoned buildings in 2007. My work is raw and brave, but there are moments of shyness and vulnerability. More than anything, my self-portraits are about dichotomy. I fall and I rise; I rise and I fall. I try to look towards the light no matter how seductive the dark can be. I confront my own mortality with both fear and defiance. Akin to the stages of grief, I face the idea of aging at first with dread, then resistance, and ultimately acceptance. In my experience, these stages are non-linear."
This is a top notch exhibit on so many levels and I highly recommend a visit to see it before the end of the month. Check out the link to Sarah's website below for updates on the show and where you can find links to her facebook and flickr pages.
Sad and Beautiful World
(As always, just click on the images in this post to enlarge them for a better view)
Sept 3- 30, 2011
Da Vinci Art Alliance
704 Catherine Street
Philadelphia, Pa
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| Installation view Sarah Bloom: Totally Exposed |
I was really impressed by this solo show after the pleasure of walking through it with the photographer as personal tour guide.The intimate space at Da Vinci Art Alliance is just right for an exhibit of this size. It's a clean, well lit space that enhances the experience of viewing the work on the walls. I had seen Sarah Bloom's work many times previously; first discovering her on Flickr about five years ago, and now keeping up with her almost daily updates on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, etc etc. In fact, it was by way of her increasingly popular web presence that Sarah was able to fund this show in the first place. A well run Kickstarter campaign raised all of the funding required to rent gallery space for a month and obtain some impressively large prints to put together the current show.
 |
| Sarah Bloom adjusting a print |
Wasted Knowledge is the largest image in the show at about 30 inches high by 90 inches long, it is printed on silk, giving it a look closer to tapestry than photography, and reminded me of the work Chuck Close has done with woven fabric.It's a perfect image for this type of experimental printing. Every slight breeze in the gallery causes the image to slowly undulate against the wall for an interesting optical effect.
 |
| Wasted Knowledge by Sarah Bloom |
The Earth is My Body is one of several very large square format prints that looked stunning and really anchor the remaining images in the gallery.Other favorites of mine were prints on translucent paper hanging in the two front windows of the gallery.All of these images are from Sarah's ongoing series of nude self portraits, mostly taken in abandoned and decaying buildings in various cities such as Philadelphia and Detroit. Lot's of people take photographs of abandoned buildings, especially in Detroit, but few people get naked and crawl around among the rubble and grime of these buildings in order to pursue an intensive photographic project.
 |
| The Earth is My Body by Sarah Bloom |
The project explores concepts of age and body image, the confrontation of mortality, and a search for beauty among decay. Sarah Bloom's artist statement includes the following summary.. "I began shooting self-portraits in abandoned buildings in 2007. My work is raw and brave, but there are moments of shyness and vulnerability. More than anything, my self-portraits are about dichotomy. I fall and I rise; I rise and I fall. I try to look towards the light no matter how seductive the dark can be. I confront my own mortality with both fear and defiance. Akin to the stages of grief, I face the idea of aging at first with dread, then resistance, and ultimately acceptance. In my experience, these stages are non-linear."
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| Sarah Bloom: Totally Exposed |
The work is beautifully displayed and thoughtfully hung on the walls. This gallery experience is a reminder that no matter how well you think you know someone's work, no matter how familiar it becomes on a daily internet basis, there is nothing like seeing work first hand. Photography is still about the document. The print will always reign supreme. Last year I saw Edward Steichen's actual prints for the first time at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. I never thought I was a huge Steichen fan until seeing those documents on the wall. I fell in love with them, and it re-confirmed the truth that we can't always trust the internet or even books to represent photography for us. Photography as art must be seen first hand in order to be fully appreciated.
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| Sarah Bloom: Totally Exposed |
This is a top notch exhibit on so many levels and I highly recommend a visit to see it before the end of the month. Check out the link to Sarah's website below for updates on the show and where you can find links to her facebook and flickr pages.
Sad and Beautiful World
(As always, just click on the images in this post to enlarge them for a better view)
Moonstone Arts Center opening reception
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| Harvey Finkle, Irv Ackelsberg, Sanford Schram Moonstone Arts Center, Philadelphia, Pa. |
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| Class Warfare in Philadelphia Moonstone Art Center |
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| Class Warfare in Philadelphia Moonstone Art Center |
Photos from September 8th, 2011 at Moonstone Arts Center in Philadelphia for the opening reception of the Class Warfare photography exhibit and lectures by Sanford Schram and Irv Ackelsberg. Also presented was this animation by David Harvey...
Class Warfare
September 8- November 3
Moonstone Art Center
110 South 13th Street
Philadelphia, Pa
The Earth Reclaims It
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| New York City and Yellowstone (2001) J Randall Updegrove |
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| New York City and Yellowstone (2001) J Randall Updegrove |
I posted these images a few years ago and they are still as incredible to me as ever. These are accidental 35mm double-exposures taken by Missoula, Montana based photographer J Randall Updegrove, who was in New York City in the Spring of 2001 where he shot a roll of film, which included these two images from the top of the Empire State Building. Somehow the same roll was re-exposed, upside-down, at Yellowstone National Park. In fact, Updegrove is not certain if the Yellowstone images were shot before or after the New York trip. This roll of film then sat in a drawer for eight years, and in 2009 were developed to discover these stunning results. The apocalyptic images of the Twin Towers suspended from the heavens over the violent geography of Yellowstone just six months prior to their actual collapse. These photos are straight out of the camera with no post processing whatsoever.
Check out the whole series of images from this roll of film...
The Earth Reclaims It
Announcing
2001-2011 A Decade of Photography in the Aftermath of 9/11
Greenwich House Music School
46 Barrow Street
West Village, NYC 10014
Please join us on Monday, September 12, 2011, from 8-10pm as we kick-off September's art season with a special curated projection by Ruben Natal-San Miguel, "A Decade of Photography in the Aftermath of 9/11." Natal-San Miguel has prepared the following artist statement:
As a survivor of attacks on Sept 11, 2001 and now a photographer, curator and an influential figure among fine art photography community, I want to celebrate life and commemorate the 10-year anniversary and showcase how photography, as an art media and derivative works, have changed the face of America and the World It is a demonstration of how our life, a worldly vision manifested through the use of the photographer’s lens and accompanied by all the technological advances, has evolved since right after 9/11 until today. It will reflect the new sensibilities in this art medium, created by the war, the economy and the advances in the technological landscapes. The exhibition will also highlight some of the most iconic images over the past decade. These photography images over the last 10-years will be on exhibition display via the World Wide Web as a unique virtual gallery and as a special slide/musical presentation to be held at the historical Greenwich House Music School. Let the healing begin!
As part of the evening, Finch & Ada will be exhibiting a September Salon, a group show of selected photography and photo based work by featured artists, who have also been influenced by a decade of change among the visual arts landscape.
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| Ruben Natal- San Miguel |
46 Barrow Street
West Village, NYC 10014
Please join us on Monday, September 12, 2011, from 8-10pm as we kick-off September's art season with a special curated projection by Ruben Natal-San Miguel, "A Decade of Photography in the Aftermath of 9/11." Natal-San Miguel has prepared the following artist statement:
As a survivor of attacks on Sept 11, 2001 and now a photographer, curator and an influential figure among fine art photography community, I want to celebrate life and commemorate the 10-year anniversary and showcase how photography, as an art media and derivative works, have changed the face of America and the World It is a demonstration of how our life, a worldly vision manifested through the use of the photographer’s lens and accompanied by all the technological advances, has evolved since right after 9/11 until today. It will reflect the new sensibilities in this art medium, created by the war, the economy and the advances in the technological landscapes. The exhibition will also highlight some of the most iconic images over the past decade. These photography images over the last 10-years will be on exhibition display via the World Wide Web as a unique virtual gallery and as a special slide/musical presentation to be held at the historical Greenwich House Music School. Let the healing begin!
As part of the evening, Finch & Ada will be exhibiting a September Salon, a group show of selected photography and photo based work by featured artists, who have also been influenced by a decade of change among the visual arts landscape.
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