 |
| Fig. 1_Constantin Brancusi, La Muse endormie,1910. Arthur Jerome Eddy Memorial Collection. The Art Institute of Chicago. © 2013 c/o Pictoright Amsterdam / Medardo Rosso, Enfantmalade, © 1909. Private collection / Man Ray, Noire et blanche, 1926. © Man Ray Trust / ADAGP - PICTORIGHT / Telimage - 2013 / Design: Thonik |
An exhibit of the works of three artists who paved the way for modern sculpture, Medardo Ross, Constantin Brancusi and Man Ray, is taking place at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The exhibit focuses on the viewpoints of the artists and their creative process with a display of 40 sculptures and more than 60 photographs taken by the artists themselves.
At the beginning of the 20th century, as photography became accessible to the general public, some artists began to take photographs to record their works. Rosso, Brancusi and Man Ray also partook in this trend, striving to impart with accuracy the goals of the creative processes of their sculpturing by changing the angle or background of their photos or reprocessing them. Rosso incorporated impressionist techniques into his sculptures, using the effect of light on his works while dramatically abbreviating form and capturing a momentary expression and its surrounding atmosphere. He shot his works, which have been likened to paintings, with a soft focus and blurred outlines, making the sculptures appear as if frolicking with light. Rosso went on to cut and paste these photos into collages and write into these with ink, sometimes conceptualizing his subsequent works from this process.
Brancusi, who is regarded as the father of modern sculpture, depicted abstract renderings of people and animals as simple forms. He created a dark room in his studio with the help of Man Ray whose photographer friends taught Brancusi how to shoot. Brancusi was highly protective of how his sculptures appeared, and during his lifetime refused to allow any photos of his work other than his own to circulate. Many of the photos of his bronze pieces, polished to a gold color, reflect a strong light. Some portions reveal a white color from halation. By stressing the effect of light, the photograph expresses the power of the sculpture.
The third artist May Ray was a painter as well as a sculptor but also well known as a photographer. Working outside of conventional boundaries in his subject matter, he created new pieces with combinations of existing objects and people. He also created what are known as rayographs where images are created without the use of a camera by placing objects directly on printing paper and exposing them to light. Rayography creates an elusive world even though working with animate objects.
By observing the photographs taken by the three sculptors, one can view the sculptures through the eyes of the artists. In a multimedia section of the exhibit, visitors can experience the photography techniques employed by the artists as well as load their own photos on the museum’s website.
At the beginning of the 20th century, as photography became accessible to the general public, some artists began to take photographs to record their works. Rosso, Brancusi and Man Ray also partook in this trend, striving to impart with accuracy the goals of the creative processes of their sculpturing by changing the angle or background of their photos or reprocessing them. Rosso incorporated impressionist techniques into his sculptures, using the effect of light on his works while dramatically abbreviating form and capturing a momentary expression and its surrounding atmosphere. He shot his works, which have been likened to paintings, with a soft focus and blurred outlines, making the sculptures appear as if frolicking with light. Rosso went on to cut and paste these photos into collages and write into these with ink, sometimes conceptualizing his subsequent works from this process.
 |
| Fig. 2_Constantin Brancusi, Princesse X (Princess X), © 1930, gelatin silver print, 29.7 x 23.7cm. Collection Centre Pompidou, MNAM-CCI, Paris. © 2013 c/o Pictoright Amsterdam. Photo Bertrand Prévost. |
Brancusi, who is regarded as the father of modern sculpture, depicted abstract renderings of people and animals as simple forms. He created a dark room in his studio with the help of Man Ray whose photographer friends taught Brancusi how to shoot. Brancusi was highly protective of how his sculptures appeared, and during his lifetime refused to allow any photos of his work other than his own to circulate. Many of the photos of his bronze pieces, polished to a gold color, reflect a strong light. Some portions reveal a white color from halation. By stressing the effect of light, the photograph expresses the power of the sculpture.
The third artist May Ray was a painter as well as a sculptor but also well known as a photographer. Working outside of conventional boundaries in his subject matter, he created new pieces with combinations of existing objects and people. He also created what are known as rayographs where images are created without the use of a camera by placing objects directly on printing paper and exposing them to light. Rayography creates an elusive world even though working with animate objects.
By observing the photographs taken by the three sculptors, one can view the sculptures through the eyes of the artists. In a multimedia section of the exhibit, visitors can experience the photography techniques employed by the artists as well as load their own photos on the museum’s website.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Museumpark 18-20
3015 CX Rotterdam
the Netherlands
www.boijmans.nl/en
Closed on Mondays, Jan 1, Apr 27, Dec 25
3015 CX Rotterdam
the Netherlands
www.boijmans.nl/en
Opening times:
Tuesday to Sunday 11:00-17:00Closed on Mondays, Jan 1, Apr 27, Dec 25
