Through May 3rd, 2014, the Daniel Blau gallery in Munich is exhibiting a series of Polaroids shot by photographer David Bailey in the 1970s. This exhibition, the first of three this season to explore the Englishman’s work, includes his famous images of Papua New Guinea and those shot on the set of Franklin Schaffner’s Planet of the Apes, as well as several portraits taken over the years.
Bailey visited Papua New Guinea for the first time in 1974 and encountered members of its native population, who live deep in the jungle, cut off from modernity. The photographs remained hidden away in boxes for 37 years before they were discovered in Bailey’s studio by German gallerist Daniel Blau and exhibited for the first time in 2012 at his London gallery. “When visiting an artist as versatile as Bailey, one should always expect the unexpected, said Blau. “Despite this, it was a great surprise to discover a box of Polaroids taken in Papua New Guinea in 1974, fascinating for their subject matter as well as for their artistic merit.” Bailey himself has mixed feelings about the experience: “In ’74 I photographed the cannibals in New Guinea. They treated me OK but they didn’t make you feel relaxed. I managed to escape unscathed though, I’m pretty good at that!”
In Munich, viewers can also enjoy Bailey’s more famous photographs, including portraits of stars, from Andy Warhol to Johnny Depp, through whom Bailey made a name for himself. In addition to this exhibition, Bailey’s new series Uncharted will be on display from April 24th to 27th as part of Paris Photo Los Angeles, and a third exhibition, For Real, will be held in London starting May 15th. “The best thing about Polaroid is to use it for porn,” Bailey has said, “because you don’t have to take it to the chemist!”
EXHIBITION
David Bailey, 70s Polaroids
Until May 3rd, 2014
Daniel Blau Gallery – Munich
Odeonsplatz 12
80539 München
Germany
T +49 89 29 73 42
http://www.danielblau.com
