In focus Galerie continue their new online series “Magic of Photography” with Bruce Davidson.
“Bruce Davidson’s work is poetic and profound, powerful and tender. It is based on the unique and long-standing relationships that he has built with people. First he gains their trust, then people can open up to him and his camera before documenting their lives. “I will stand by their side respectfully until I am invited,” said Davidson. “There is a lot of patience and silence when taking a photo.”
One of the photographs comes from the series “East 100th Street” (old man with dog, gelatin silver print, signed on the reverse, 28 x 35 cm). From 1966 to 1968, Davidson spent two years documenting the neglected block, the bad social conditions, and the residents of East 100th Street in Manhattan. “My way of working,” said Davidson, “is to enter an unknown world, explore it for a period of time, and learn from it.” To gain trust, he made friends with 18-year-old José Rosa and made respectful contact by knocking on doors with Rosa and connecting with the community in East Harlem before taking a picture.
To this day we are very proud to have introduced this legend of photography in Germany with his series “East 100th Street” for the first time in Germany in 1999. Bruce traveled from New York to the opening with his wife Emily. The book “East 100th Street” was published for the exhibition. Remaining copies are still available in the gallery for € 35.
Close contact developed in the course of the collaboration. We visited him several times in New York and were always invited by him to live with him. It was a great experience for us to live in the daughter’s former children’s room in Bruce and Emily’s apartment. Emily and Bruce are very warm and hospitable people who have given us a deep insight into the American soul. On “Thanksgiving” they shared their roast turkey with us.
Bruce Landon Davidson, born in Illinois in 1933, has been a member of the world famous photographer agency Magnum since 1958. His photographs have become known to a large audience in numerous books and large exhibitions worldwide. As early as 1963, the Museum of Modern Art in New York dedicated a solo exhibition with photographs of East 100th Street, a series that DU 1969 described as “the most important photographic document of the decade that was coming to an end.” Current exhibitions worldwide attest to this continuing great interest in Davidson’s work today.” – Anja Maria and Burkhard Arnold
Inquiries about Bruce Davidson`s work or an appointment to visit the gallery can be made by phone or email to [email protected].
in focus Galerie – B. Arnold
Hauptstraße 114
50996 Köln
