Walter Finch
MALAGA welcomes a new photo exhibition showcasing the weird and wonderful work of legendary American photographer and avant-garde artist Man Ray.
Born Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia in 1890, Man Ray is celebrated for his works after World War I that set the artistic tone of the period.
He is a famed pioneer of both the surrealist and dadaist movements that emerged in response to the industrial slaughter of the Great War, which he showcased through nudes and portraits.
Man Ray’s ability to capture the human body is evident in his nudes, which were shocking for the period.
The exhibition, at the Carmen Thyssen Museum, predominantly features female figures who were the artist’s friends, lovers, and muses, such as Kiki de Montparnasse.
The famous photograph ‘Le Violon d’Ingres’ is one of the highlights of this exhibition.
The display is divided into three main themes: nudes, portraits, and Man Ray’s signature ‘rayograms’ – camera-less photographs made by placing objects on photosensitive paper and exposing them to light.
These ‘rayograms’, including eight from the series ‘Champs délicieux’ (1922), highlight Man Ray’s experimental approach, transforming everyday objects into bewildering and novel images.
The portrait and fashion photography segment of the exhibition showcases Man Ray’s mastery and reputation, featuring famous personalities from 1920s and 1930s Paris, including Spanish contemporaries like Miró, Dalí, Buñuel, Juan Gris, and Picasso.
The exhibition also includes a case with thirteen portraits and self-portraits of Man Ray, providing a playful and ironic counterpoint to the display.
Lourdes Moreno, the museum’s artistic director, emphasised the significance of the exhibition, stating: “With this project in Sala Noble, we once again claim the rightful place of photography in our mission to promote artistic dissemination.
“This time, we do it with an essential figure in 20th-century art: Man Ray.”
Moreno added that ‘Man Ray. Selected Photographs’ offers a fresh perspective distinct from previous exhibitions at the Carmen Thyssen Museum, showcasing the work of an artist who navigated between dadaism and surrealism.
The exhibition, which opened on January 29, will run until April 21.
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