Pierre Leguillon presents

Diane Arbus: a printed retrospective, 1960–1971

27.3 2010 – 1.8 2010

Malmö

Pierre Leguillon presents Diane Arbus: a printed retrospective, 1960–1971 was compiled by the French artist Pierre Leguillon and highlights the work of Diane Arbus (1923–1971) for the Anglo-American press between 1960 and 1971. The retrospective is based on an almost complete collection of Diane Arbus’ published works but also reflects Leguillon’s deep fascination for images – how we read pictures differently depending on the context, how pictures interrelate with each other and, lastly, the hierarchical relationship between word and image.

Diane Arbus has been acknowledged throughout the world for her engaging portraits of people who challenge the presiding norms and ideals in various ways. In an era of growing uniformity, she focused on disparities and highlighted what was different, special and unique. In view of her enormous influence, it may appear surprising that she only participated in one major museum exhibition during her lifetime – New Documents at MoMA in 1967. Her photos appeared far more frequently in print, in magazines and newspapers.

Consequently, this exhibition shows Diane Arbus’ photography in its original context – as portraits illustrating interviews, integrated in journalistic reportages, and combined into photo essays. The photos are shown on the pages of original copies of Harper’s Bazar, Nova, The Sunday Times Magazine, Esquire and other publications. Discreetly interspersed with Diane Arbus’ magazine spreads are a selection of more recent spreads, with texts and illustrations by other photographers, including Walker Evans, Annie Leibovitz, Bill Owens and Wolfgang Tillmans – photographers whose works bear reference in various ways to the pictorial repertoire of Diane Arbus.

The exhibition also relates to the permanent collection exhibition Spectacular Times and literally stretches into its exhibition space. Leguillon has selected works by Ad Reinhardt, Walker Evans and Andy Warhol from the collection, thereby extending the Moderna Museet collection into the retrospective on Diane Arbus.

/Joa Ljungberg, curator at Moderna Museet Malmö, has curated Pierre Leguillon presents Diane Arbus: A Printed Retrospective 1960–1971.

ARTIST TALK: PIERRE LEGUILLON

On the opening day of the exhibition Pierre Leguillon features Diane Arbus: A Printed Retrospective, 1960-1971 an Artist talk with Pierre Leguillon will be held at Moderna Museet Malmö. Joa Ljungberg, curator at Moderna Museet Malmö, is moderator. The Artist talk is included in the entrance fee.

Date: 27 March
Time: 2-3 pm