A photo is worth a thousand words? That is for sure how I felt wathching the photo exhibition of Diane Arbus at Jeu de Paume yesterday.
I was not really familiar with her work, had only vaguely heard about it, but something had caught my eye... and I wanted to see more of it.
For sure it was worth the 40 mins queue outside Jeu de Paume.
A collection of 200 photos takes you back to the era of 50's and 60's in USA. To see the society changing, and making space for the new couples with their families, for the nouveau riche of the era having fun in masquerade balls... for the artists drawn to New York and, most of all, to the outscasts of that society. Men and women who stood out, either by physical characteristics, lifestyle choices or simply becuase they were deep into poverty. Tranvestites, gang members, nudists, posed calmly for the artist, conveyed the message, challenged your eye and your thoughts of them.
In each photo I stood for more than simply just moments, to abosrb the different layers and feelings, to watch all the actors in the scene that Diane had selected, as if in a play...So strange how the black and white photos hid the colours, but instead took out a power that was overwhelming. I wanted to cry, to say something, somehow all the photos had me....
Highly recommended for all to see- the exhibition is on until the first week in February.
And a good reminder for me that Paris is not only about the classical, the antique, the old, but it can be nicely and surprisingly provoking...
Love,
Eve
I was not really familiar with her work, had only vaguely heard about it, but something had caught my eye... and I wanted to see more of it.
For sure it was worth the 40 mins queue outside Jeu de Paume.
A collection of 200 photos takes you back to the era of 50's and 60's in USA. To see the society changing, and making space for the new couples with their families, for the nouveau riche of the era having fun in masquerade balls... for the artists drawn to New York and, most of all, to the outscasts of that society. Men and women who stood out, either by physical characteristics, lifestyle choices or simply becuase they were deep into poverty. Tranvestites, gang members, nudists, posed calmly for the artist, conveyed the message, challenged your eye and your thoughts of them.
In each photo I stood for more than simply just moments, to abosrb the different layers and feelings, to watch all the actors in the scene that Diane had selected, as if in a play...So strange how the black and white photos hid the colours, but instead took out a power that was overwhelming. I wanted to cry, to say something, somehow all the photos had me....
Highly recommended for all to see- the exhibition is on until the first week in February.
And a good reminder for me that Paris is not only about the classical, the antique, the old, but it can be nicely and surprisingly provoking...
Love,
Eve
