Russian hybrids

A visit to the photography museum Foam on the Keizersgracht is one of my favorite things to do, it always proofs to be worthwhile. During the last 10 years I have seen many interesting exhibitions. When the two major museums of Amsterdam were closed for renovation purposes the Foam offered me salvation and it still does.

Not only the selection of the work is often brilliant but also the way it is presented. For the current exhibition on Russian Color Photography the colors of the walls are transformed into an outspoken daring color combination. And it works surprisingly well!

The exhibition in itself is fascinating for two reasons I think. On the one hand for the depiction of Russian history starting from 1850s onward, on the other hand for the technical and experimental quality of the images. The exhibition is an interesting showcase of the many ways color can be added to a black and white photograph. Through a combination of different media a sort of hybrid images are created, such as the application of oil painting, water color or crayon on a silver print.

On the site some examples are shown, but of course much better is to see the real images in the Foam museum, I am sure you won't be disappointed!
http://www.foam.org

Moscow 1909, Portret of boy, gelatine silverprint gouache

70ties, Boris Mikhailov, Luriki series 

1928 Rhumba, Alexander Rodchenko, colour crayon on gelatine silver print

seeing is believing

The Believer is omnipresent. Not in a religious sense, as churches are gradually fading out of our society. But as somebody who believes in his own cause, making his own choices, setting his own goals, not distracted by expectations set by the outside world. The Believer is on a mission and creates his own truth. Driven by enthusiasm, faith and passion he is an amateur in the true sense of the word (from the Latin 'amator', 'lover'). The point of view of The Believer is unique and his intense focus disconnects his work from existing conventions. His belief is his life and sometimes they make a living doing it,but they really don't care if you call them professionals or hobbyists. They just do it.

They've always been around, but new media make their fascination easily visible. Sometimes a Believer gets picked up by a curator, as was the case with The Museum of Everything. 

http://www.museumofeverything.com/

Dutch designer Christien Meindertsma puts the modest Loes Veenstra in the limelight by archiving and exhibiting her lifelong passion for knitting random sweaters.

http://youtu.be/Pul1Ja8gWBg

The collected knittings of Loes Veenstra, cover and content

Bill Cunningham does only one thing: whenever he gets up, he takes his camera and his bikes on the streets of NYC and starts looking at the way people dress. He has a sharp eye and the ultimate embarrassment is "when you pass him & he doesn't take your picture". says Anna Wintour. He publishes in the NewYork Times and his observations are as educational as amusing. 

This week fashion is out of fashion, because it's New York Fashion Week. 

http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/02/08/fashion/100000002053172/bill-cunningham-shape-shift.html

1984 Bill Cunningham, photo by Arthur Elgort

Also don't forget to watch the documentary about this heartwarming and inspiring man: http://youtu.be/NYqiLJBXbss