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Museums New
York named Why Look at Animals? one of the top ten exhibitions this
fall.
The relationships between humans and the other animals on our planet are
complex and profound. Why Look at Animals? examines the
ways animals have been represented
photographically over time, from
the romantic pastoral images of P.H.
Emerson, to the sardonic and edgy
metaphors of John Heartfield, to the
scientific documents of Eadweard
Muybridge and Harold Edgerton.
The exhibition showcases both familiar
and unfamiliar selections from
the George Eastman House collection
and also explores the variety
of ways in which photographs work,
using images of animals to demonstrate
taxonomy, formal aesthetic,
humor, sentiment, and aide memoire.
The exhibition will be presented in
sections: They Make Us Laugh; They
Inhabit Our Dreams; They Complete
Our Families; We Study Them; They are Beautiful; They are
Valuable; They Serve Us; Contemporary
Works. Highlights of this survey
exhibition include early zoo photographs
by Count de Montizon, an
Edward Steichen portrait of famed
herpetologist Raymond Ditmars
with snake, and a number of poignant
images by Robert Doisneau.
Contemporary images will include
Barbara Norfleet's series Manscape
With Beasts, Rebecca Norris Webb's
observations on zoos from The Glass
Between Us, Richard Ross's evocative
treatment of natural history collections,
and a beloved weimeriener of
William Wegman.
A 24-page, 6 x 6-inch,
color gallery guide is available for
purchase with six weeks' advance
notice.
Visitor Comments:
"Beautiful exhibit. Thank you."
"Very nice exhibit, split into themes and ideas. Keeping it open-ended, allowing the viewers to bring their own thoughts into it was a good idea. Very thought-provoking."
"Congratulations! A fabulous exhibit, beautifully installed - eye opening."
"Excellent perspective on history of man and animals."
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Robert Doisneau (French, 1912-1994). THE HIGHER ANIMALS,
1954. Gelatin silver print. Gift of artist.
Barbara Norfleet (American, b.1926). SKUNK AND STRAWBERRIES ON GREAT POND,
1985. Cibachrome print. Courtesy of the artist. |
