Fotografiska presents: Anton Corbijn
Fotografiska, January 14 – April 15, 2012
Fotografiska inaugurates the New Year with Anton Corbijn's most recent photographic project Inwards and Onwards. Corbijn is one of the most influential photographers and directors working today. In his latest project, he portrays the people who fascinate and move him, creative people, often working in the fine arts.
We recognize Corbijn’s high contrast style from his legendary collaborations with Joy Division and Depeche Mode, but in his latest work Anton Corbijn has photographed instead fine artists such as Gerhard Richter, Richard Prince, Damien Hirst, Lucian Freud, and Karel Appel creating unexpected, intimate portraits. The exhibition Inwards and Onwards also features a powerful image of the recently deceased fashion designer Alexander McQueen, musical icons Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, and Tom Waits as well as wonderfully revealing portraits of Al Gore and Nelson Mandela.
Corbijn has been photographing independently since 2002. He continues to work with black and white film, but no longer with assistants or lighting equipment. The exhibition Inwards and Onwards features images by a photographer who has “done it all”. Here Corbijn returns to his roots: with a camera and natural light, capturing fascinating, creative people and their life stories in front of the lens.
-I am fascinated by many of the artists I have chosen to portray in Inwards and Onwards, and now I am even impressed by them as people. Their confrontation with the white canvas made a strong impression, that they created something that reflects a struggle, says Anton Corbijn.”
The entire series of approximately 36 large format prints are the result of a simplified working method that hearkens back to his approach during the 70s and early 80s. The ensuing monumental portraits contrast his stark aesthetic with the intimate portrayal of the sitter. This contrast creates visual tension in the image and reflects a sophistication and maturity in Corbijn’s work.
-We are incredibly excited that we are able to exhibit Corbijn. He has a unique way of portraying our time – often via pop culture. And once more we have the chance to show another dimension of art photography to our visitors, says Jan Broman, Artistic Director and Founder of Fotografiska.
About Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn was responsible for crafting the visual images of legendary bands, including Depeche Mode, Joy Division, New Order, and U2 among others. One of his most iconic photographs graces the cover of U2’s album The Joshua Tree, taken in 1986 in Death Valley, USA. Beyond Corbijn’s distinct black and white imagery, he has made his mark as an award-winning director. He began by directing music videos for bands such as Joy Division and Depeche Mode and later Nirvana, U2, Coldplay, and Johnny Cash. Corbjin’s list of accomplishments is long, which leads one to question if there is any other image-maker during the 1980s and 90s who has been more important to the music industry than Anton Corbijn?
Corbijn made his film debut with Control, about Ian Curtis from Joy Division. The film premiered in 2007 and won Best European Film at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Through the years Corbijn has exhibited his photographs at several eminent institutions from the Photographic Resource Center in Boston to Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, Foam in Amsterdam, as well as Kunsthalle in Vienna.
Anton Corbijn has photographed several Swedish musicians such as Ulf Lundell, Eagle-Eye Cherry, Per Gessle, Roxette and Sophie Zelmani.
For press pictures and further information, please contact:
Jens Hollingby, jens.hollingby@fotografiska.eu, +46 (0) 70 943 06 13
The exhibition is arranged in cooperation with Foam.
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