Pre-war Digital Camera - pencil drawing by Nigel A. JAMESAn Exhibition of Simplistic Photographic Expertise
It was the deep running currents of explosive change that marked the period between the two world wars; and it was Tina Modotti, who, with her camera, sensitively froze moment after moment of those cascading years. Now, part of her incredible work is on display in Vienna.
It is true to say that Tina Modotti was, in every sense of the word, international; and it can not be denied that the inter-war years were hers. Her life, on the back of the developing socialist ideals that she believed in, took her from her native Italy to the Americas, back to Europe and home via Russia; and it was everywhere that she went that provided her with the richness of material for her pictures.
She took pictures of everything and everybody, and, all of her pictures, whether people, puppets or plants have an expert simplicity about them. Her work was honest, capturing not only looks but also souls and hearts as well. The people she photographed must have liked her, otherwise she would never have been as successful as she was. But of course there are people and there are people.
And people are the biggest surprise of this exhibition. Co-starring are not only the photographers Edward Weston and Johan Hagemeyer, but also the artists Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo as well. These were her friends, and friendships provide the best perspectives for character. Tina Modotti was one of the best, and some of the most interesting photos of this exhibition are the portraits of Tina Modotti which were taken by Weston.
Sadly, Tina Modotti died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 42. What pictures would there have been if she had survived? But her years were the dangerous ones!
This exhibition is called “Photographer and Revolutionary” and is on until the 7th of November at the Kunst Haus in Vienna. If you are interested in Tina Modotti, there is a fair amount about her in the net.
And people are the biggest surprise of this exhibition. Co-starring are not only the photographers Edward Weston and Johan Hagemeyer, but also the artists Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo as well. These were her friends, and friendships provide the best perspectives for character. Tina Modotti was one of the best, and some of the most interesting photos of this exhibition are the portraits of Tina Modotti which were taken by Weston.
Sadly, Tina Modotti died under suspicious circumstances at the age of 42. What pictures would there have been if she had survived? But her years were the dangerous ones!
This exhibition is called “Photographer and Revolutionary” and is on until the 7th of November at the Kunst Haus in Vienna. If you are interested in Tina Modotti, there is a fair amount about her in the net.
Full details, www.kunsthauswien.com
My address is, njmailboy@gmail.com
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