Photography Exhibition : Barbican, London
Robert Capa at Work : Gerda Taro a Retrospective
I normally only mention Photography Exhibitions doing the rounds in Scotland. However, this one at the Barbican in London is something quite special.
What makes it stand out (to me) isn't so much the great name of Robert Capa but the lesser known name of Gerda Taro; a quite exceptional woman and conflict photographer. I say "conflict photographer" instead of "war photographer" to detract away from gung-ho connotations of the latter label. Taro's work is so much more than that.
Her life story itself is as incredible as her images. Glamourous, lover and colleague of Capa, and a pioneering front-line war photographer. She actively opposed the rise of the Nazi Party and was separated (at an early age) from her family; she would never see them again. She pioneered the use of small cameras in photojournalism, died in battle at the age of 27 and was given a Grand state-like funeral in Paris.
She will be always over shadowed by the name of Capa (such is our male dominated world) but at this exhibition she gets equal billing.
A "must see" exhibition. I'm heading straight over to thetrainline.com to book my travel.
I normally only mention Photography Exhibitions doing the rounds in Scotland. However, this one at the Barbican in London is something quite special.
What makes it stand out (to me) isn't so much the great name of Robert Capa but the lesser known name of Gerda Taro; a quite exceptional woman and conflict photographer. I say "conflict photographer" instead of "war photographer" to detract away from gung-ho connotations of the latter label. Taro's work is so much more than that.
Her life story itself is as incredible as her images. Glamourous, lover and colleague of Capa, and a pioneering front-line war photographer. She actively opposed the rise of the Nazi Party and was separated (at an early age) from her family; she would never see them again. She pioneered the use of small cameras in photojournalism, died in battle at the age of 27 and was given a Grand state-like funeral in Paris.
She will be always over shadowed by the name of Capa (such is our male dominated world) but at this exhibition she gets equal billing.
A "must see" exhibition. I'm heading straight over to thetrainline.com to book my travel.
17 October to 25 January, 2009
The BarbicanSilk Street
London
020 7638 4141
